xfiHxittl   JPttxtt. 

No.  VIII. 

4 


\ 


ANNALS 


WUtcftcraft  in  ^eto  tf njlanfc 


AND  ELSEWHERE  IN 


THE    UNITED    STATES, 


FROM  THEIR  FIRST  SETTLEMENT. 


DRAWN  UP  PROM  UNPUBLISHED  AND  OTHER  WELL  AUTHENTICATED 

RECORDS  OF  THE  ALLEGED  OPERATIONS  OF  WITCHES  AND 

THEIR    INSTIGATOR,    THE    DEVIL. 


By  SAMUEL  G.  DRAKE. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


BOSTON : 
W.    ELLIOT    WOODWARD, 

358   Dudley   Street. 
MDCCCLXIX. 


\8fcH 


No.. 


Entered  according  to  A€t  of  Congrefs  in  the  year  1869, 

By  Samuel  G.  Drake, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Diftridr.  Court  of  the  United  States 

for  the  Diftrift  of  Maflachufetts. 


SPRECKELS 


EDITION    TWO    HUNDRED    AND    SEVENTY-FIVE    COPIES,    OF    WHICH 
TWENTY-FIVE    ARE    ON    LARGE    PAPER,   AND    FIVE    ON 

Whatman's  drawing  paper. 


C^s&T^y^^ 


<^ 


TO  THE 

HON.  JOHN  WENTWORTH,  LL.  D., 

OF    CHICAGO, 

ONE  OF  THE  VICE-PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  NEW  ENGLAND  HISTORIC- 
GENEALOGICAL  SOCIETY, 

mm  liooti  in  Delrfratrlr 

AS  AN  ACKNOWLEDGMENT  OF  HIS  VALUABLE  SERVICES 

IN  THE  CAUSE  OF  RESCUING  MATERIALS   FOR 

THE     HISTORY    OF    THE    FOUNDERS 

OF    NEW    ENGLAND, 

BY  THE 

AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


THIS  is  the  firft  Attempt, 
fo  far  as  is  known  to  the 
Writer,  to  colled:  together 
the  Annals  of  Witchcraft  in  this 


Country.  Like  all  firft  Attempts 
in  an  untrodden  Path  of  Hiftory, 
this  may  fall  fhort  of  Expectation 
!in  feveral  refpects.  Thofe  who 
look  for  a  Succeffion  of  Tales  of 
Horrour  of  the  moft  terrible  Kind 
may  be  difappointed,  while  others  will  rejoice  that 
there  are  no  more  of  them,  and  may  be  fatisfied 
that  the  Tragedies  are  interfperfed^ere  and  there 
by  Comedies. 

It  has  doubtlefs  been  a  Queflion  with  all  Readers 
of  Accounts  of  the  Witchcraft  Cafes  which  have 
occurred  in  this  Country,  how  it  happened  that  they 
were  fo  fimilar  to  thofe  which  took  place  in  Eng- 


viii  Preface. 

land.  The  Queftion  is  eafily  anfwered;  in  other 
Words  the  Similarity  is  eafily  accounted  for. 
Witchcraft  was  itfelf  imported  by  thofe  who  firft 
praclifed  it  here,  and  was  perpetuated  by  the 
Importers  and  their  immediate  Defcendants. 

Books  on  Magick,  Sorcery  and  Witchcraft  were 
brought  to  this  Country  by  the  early  Settlers. 
Thefe  were  ftudied,  and  their  Contents  enlarged 
upon  according  to  the  Powers  of  the  Imagination 
of  thofe  who  were  ambitious  to  appear  wifer  than 
their  Neighbours. 

So  much  Prominence  has  been  given  to  what 
is  called  the  Salem  Witchcraft,  that  what  had 
occurred  in  the  Country  before  and  fince  1692  is, 
and  has  been,  overlooked  or  almoft  entirely  loft  fight 
of.  It  will  be  feen  by  the  following  Work  that  it  was 
a  Part  of  the  focial  Life  of  the  People,  and  to  them 
of  the  greateft  Importance  through  all  the  earlier 
Periods  of  their  Hiftory  from  the  Promulgation 
of  their  Laws  to  the  year  1700.  The  Queftion 
arifes  naturally,  Why  has  the  Subject  of  Witch- 
craft been  pafled  over  fo  lightly  by  the  general, 
and  almoft  entirely  by  the  local  Hiftorian?  It 
can  hardly  be  fuppofed  that  they  purpofely  omit 
thofe  Details  with  a  Belief  that  they  will  be  forgot- 
ten, and  the  Reproach  they  occafion  with  them. 


Preface.  ix 


This  would  be  a  fhort  lighted  Decifion  indeed.  But 
the  Affair  at  Salem  has  not  been  omitted.  That 
has  been  a  Peg  on  which  to  hang  Reproaches 
againft  New  England,  early  and  late;  as  though 
it  were  the  Corner-ftone  of  all  the  Troubles  of 
the  Kind  which  ever  happened  in  the  Land.  No 
Attempt  will  be  made  in  Defence  of  that  terrible 
Delufion,  nor  of  thofe  concerned  in  it;  as  that 
would  be  to  defend  a  debafing  Ignorance,  the 
Progenitor  of  the  more  debafing  Superftition. 

It  cannot  but  be  acknowledged  that  thofe  in 
Authority  at  that  Day  were  men  "fearing  God/' 
'confcientious  to  the  laft  Degree,  and  therefore  felt 
themfelves  compelled  to  obey  the  folemn  Injunc- 
tion "not  to  furfer  a  Witch  to  live."  Their 
Confciences  would  allow  them  no  Alternative  but 
to  obey  that  Command;  not  entirely  upon  the 
Evidence  of  their  own  Senfes  but  always  with  the 
Decifion  of  twelve  of  the  beft  Citizens  of  the 
Community  where  the  Cafes  occurred. 

If  thofe  who  are  fo  free  with  their  Denunciations 
of  the  Proceedings  of  1692  will  refled:,  they  will 
find  themfelves  in  a  Dilemma  of  this  Sort:  with 
Believers  in  the  Injunctions  of  the  Bible,  or  Dif- 
believers  in  them.  The  former  obeyed  thofe 
Injunctions,  the  latter  evaded  or  dilbelieved  them. 
B 


x  Preface. 

The  Inference  is  too  apparent  to  need  further 
Attention. 

The  following  Annals  have  been  derived  from 
Materials  widely  fcattered.  I  have  thought  for  a 
long  Period  that  fuch  a  Work  mould  be  compofed, 
becaufe  there  is,  and  doubtlefs  always  will  be,  a 
Defire  to  know  what  could  be  found  upon  the 
Subject,  that  might  be  relied  upon  as  authentick. 
As  to  this  latter  Particular,  it  may  be  proper  to 
ftate,  that  I  have  admitted  Nothing  into  thefe 
Pages  not  well  authenticated  by  Documents,  and 
generally  of  the  Time  of  the  Occurrences. 

It  was  my  Fortune  many  Years  ago,  to  come 
into  PofTeffion  of  a  great  Amount  of  original  Pa- 
pers, on  a  large  Number  of  hiftorical  Subjects. 
Among  them  were  many  upon  the  SubjecT:  of 
Witchcraft,  and  Witch  Trials.  From  thefe  a 
very  important  and  confiderable  Portion  of  the  en- 
fuing  Volume  has  been  compofed. 

It  would  feem  from  many  Circumftances  that 
the  early  Emigrants  to  New  England  were  familiar 
with  Books  on  Witchcraft,  and  doubtlefs  fome  of 
them  brought  Works  on  that  SubjecT:  with  them; 
yet  the  Scarcity  of  all  Kinds  of  Books  and  their 
high  Prices  at  that  Period  in  England  would  feem 
hardly  to  allow  of  their  being  common.     A  Cata- 


Preface.  xi 

logue  of  fuch  Works  as  were  extant  at  that  Time 
would  be  one  of  very  great  Intereft,  but  it  would 
be  too  extenfive  for  this  Preface.  References  to 
many  will  be  found  in  the  Introduction  to  the 
Witchcraft  Delujion  publifhed  in  1866.  The 
Work  of  the  Rev.  William  Perkins,  entitled  the 
Damned  Art  of  Witchcraft,  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's 
Memorable  Providences  relating  to  Witchcraft 
(1689),  Dr.  Increafe  Mather's  Remarkable  Provi- 
dences (1684),  Mr.  Richard  Baxter's  Certainty  of 
the  World  of  Spirits  ( 1 69 1 ),  and  a  Trial  of  Witches, 
before  Sir  Matthew  Hale  ( 1 66 1 ),  were  perhaps  the 
Works  the  beft  known  to  the  People  of  New 
England  at  the  Time  of  the  Salem  Tragedies. 
As  the  Work  of  Hale  (written  in  March,  1661), 
was  of  the  firft  Authority  in  England,  and  referred 
to  here  with  unbounded  Confidence,  a  brief 
Extract  from  it  may  be  of  Intereft  in  this  Connec- 
tion: He  fays,  "That  there  are  fuch  evil  Angels 
[as  Witches]  it  is  without  all  Queftion.  The  Old 
Teftament  aifures  us  of  it,  as  it  eafily  appears  upon 
the  Confideration  of  the  Temptation  of  our  firft: 
Parents  ;  the  Hiftory  of  Abimeleck  and  the  men  of 
Shechem ;  the  Hiftory  of  Saul  and  the  Witch  of 
Endor ;  the  Hiftory  of  Micaiah  and  the  falfe 
Prophets ;  the  Hiftory  of  Job ;  the  Prophecy  of 


xii  Preface. 

the  Defolation  of  Babylon,  wherein  the  Satyrs 
were  to  inhabit.  The  New  Teftament  more  ex- 
plicitly and  more  abundantly  clears  it,  by  the 
Hiftory  of  the  Temptation  of  our  Lord  ;  the  De- 
moniacks  of  feveral  Symptoms  cured  by  our  Lord 
and  his  Apoftles  ;  the  Proceffion  of  the  Evil  Spirit, 
and  his  Return  with  feven  other  Spirits  ;  the  Vifion 
of  the  Fall  of  Satan  from  Heaven  like  Lightning 
by  our  Saviour ;  the  feveral  AfTertings  of  it  in  the 
Gofpel  and  Apoftolical  Epiftles;  the  Prince  of  the 
Power  of  the  Air.  It  is  alfo  confirmed  to  us  by 
daily  Experience  of  the  Power  and  Energy  of 
thefe  Evil  Spirits  in  Witches,  and  by  them."  This, 
and  a  great  Deal  more  was  written  by  the  Lord 
Chief  Juftice  after  he  had  prefided  at  certain 
Witch  Trials,  in  Purfuance  of  which  Divers  had 
fuifered  Death.  The  Subftance  of  thofe  Trials 
may  be  seen  in  The  Wonders  of  the  Invifible  World 
as  introductory  to  and  Authority  for  thofe  at 
Salem.1  And  as  a  further  Bulwark  againft  the 
Sadducees  of  that  Generation,  the  Doctor  adds: 
"The  Venerable  Baxter  very  truly  fays,  Judge 
Hale  was  a  Perfon,  than  whom,  no  Man  was  more 
backward  to  condemn  a  Witch,  without  full 
Evidence." 

1  See  The  Witchcraft  Delufion  in  New  England,  I,  141-151. 


Preface.  xiii 

The  Work  of  Judge  Hale  above  referred  to 
would  make  a  very  fuitable  Chapter  in  the  Mag- 
nalia;  for  his  Relations  of  bewitched  Perfons  are* 
as  aftonifliing  as  any  contained  in  that  wonderful 
Book;  and  their  Reporter  as  implicitly  believed 
them  as  did  Dr.  Mather  thofe  which  he  recorded. 
That  Judge  was  more  regarded  in  New  England 
than  any  other  as  Authority,  becaufe  of  his  great 
Piety  and  Purity  of  Character;  and  while  thefe 
Qualities  are  not  denied  him  in  this  Age,  his 
Weaknefs,  Credulity  and  Stupidity  are  quite  as 
apparent. 

I  will  notice  a  few  other  Works  in  this  Place 
upon  the  Subject  of  Witchcraft. 

As  late  as  171 5,  a  Work  in  two  handfome  Vo- 
lumes was  published  by  well  known  Bookfellers 
in  London,  entitled  A  Compleat  Hijiory  of  Magic k, 
Sorcery  and  Witchcraft.  Thefe  Volumes  were 
in  the  duodecimo  Form,  and  contained  above  five 
hundred  Pages,  clofe  Print.  From  the  Contents 
one  would  hardly  be  led  to  fuppofe  that  the 
Reality  of  Witchcraft  had  to  that  Time  ever  been 
queftioned  by  Anybody,  except  Infidels.  It  em- 
braces all  of  thofe  numerous  Trials  and  Executions 
in  England  with  the  fame  Complacency  and 
Satisfaction  as  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  detailed  thofe 


xiv  Preface. 

of  New  England  in  his  Wonders  of  the  Invijible 
World.  In  fad:,  it  embraces  an  Abftract  of  that 
Work  alfo.  Thefe  Volumes  were  printed  for 
E.  Curll,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Dial  and  Bible,  J. 
Pemberton,  at  the  Sign  of  the  Buck  and  Sun,  op- 
pofite  St.  Dunftan's  Church  in  Fleet  Street;  and 
W.  Taylor,  at  the  Ship  in  Pater-Nofter-Row; 
and  whoever  has  recently  vifited  Fleet  Street  might 
have  feen  the  beautifully  fymmetrical  old  Dunftan, 
founded  fome  760  Years  ago,  upon  which  Curll 
and  Pemberton  daily  looked,  and  which  is  likely 
long  to  remain  for  others  to  look  upon,  there 
being  no  Back-Bay  in  London  into  which  to  fend 
the  Churches  of  that  ancient  City.1 

There  were  not  many  Works  written,  or  if 
written  were  not  published,  expofing  the  Belief 
in  Witchcraft,  until  a  comparatively  late  Period 
of  the  Delufion.  There  were  two  Reafons  for 
this.  One  was  there  were  comparatively  few  who 
did  not  believe  in  it,  and  the  other  was  the  Dan- 
er  of  lofing  their  Standing  in  Society,  and  being 
expofed  to  Perfecutions  of  every  Kind. 

1  The  Writer  has  no  Objection  there,  and  to  go  and  live  there  them- 

to  urge  againil  the  People  of  Bolton  felves  to  get  away  from  their  lefs 

for  wifhing to  have  all  their  Churches  opulent  Neighbours  we  recommend 

on  the  lately  filled  Quagmire.     If  thofe  Neighbours  to  allow  them  to 

they  defire  to  remove  their  Churches  enjoy  their  Solitude. 


Preface,  xv 

I  have  mown  in  the  Introduction  to  The  Witch- 
craft Delujion  that  there  was  one  Man  in  England 
who  fuccefsfully  battled  againft  it,  while  at  th& 
fame  Time  he  believed  in  it,  or  pretended  to  be- 
lieve in  it,  as  the  only  Courfe  then  fafe  to  be  taken. 
This  was  Sir  Robert  Filmer.  He  preceded  Mr. 
Calef,  but  Mr.  Calef  does  not  feem  to  have  been 
aware  that  fuch  a  Champion  was  in  the  field. 
Cotemporary  with  Filmer  was  John  Brinley, 
Gent,  who  publifhed  a  Work  with  this  Title, 
A  Difcovery  of  the  Impojiures  of  Witches  and  Af- 
tro/ogers,  London,  Printed  for  John  Wright,  at 
the  Crown  on  Ludgate-Hill,  and  fold  by  Edward 
Milward,  Bookfeller,  in  Leitchfield,  1680.  This 
is  a  fmall  i6mo  of  127  Pages,  dedicated  to  Sir 
Brian  Broughton  of  Broughton,  Baronet,  dated 
Brockton  in  the  County  of  Stafford,  Nov.  7th, 
1679.1  Like  Filmer,  Brinley  believed  or  pre- 
tended to  believe  in  Witchcraft.  His  firft  Chapter 
opens  thus:  "An  Owl,  an  Hare,  and  an  Old- 
woman,  was  anciently  the  Emblem  of  Superftition ; 
and  truly  if  we  mail  diligently  fearch  into  the 
Caufes  of  this  Error,  we  mall  find  that  Ignorance, 
and  Dotage,  vain  Hopes,  and  foolifh  Fears,  ground- 

1  The  only  Copy  of  this  curious     Friend  George   Brinley,   Esq.,  of 
Book  known  to  me  belongs  to  my     Hartford. 


xvi  Preface. 

lefs  Expectations,  and  cafual  Events  have  been  the 
Springs  from  whence  this  Folly  proceeds,  which  is 
^the  Mother  of  all  thefe  Omens  and  Prognostica- 
tions." 

This  is  a  good  Common  Senfe  Opening  to  his 
Work.  I  will  in  the  next  and  laft  Place  give  an 
Example  of  the  oppofite  Sort.  His  fourth  Chapter 
is  thus  headed:  "That  Devils  may  do  Mifchief 
to  Man  or  Beaft,  without  any  AiTociation  with 
Witch  or  Wizard."  He  then  goes  on:  "Though 
we  do  not  deny,  but  mail  hereafter  prove,  that 
there  are  Witches,  and  Necromancers,  and  fuch 
Perfons  as  make  wicked  Contracts  with  the  Devil, 
to  the  Ruin  of  their  own  Souls,  and  the  Prejudice 
of  others;  yet  it  is  moft  certain,  that  the  Devil 
often  does  much  Evil  of  himfelf  (by  God's  Per- 
miffion)  without  any  AiTociation  with  any  of  his 
forementioned  Inftruments."  It  is  unnecefTary 
to  extract  further  from  this  Author,  for  his  Attri- 
butes of  the  Devil  do  not  differ  materially  from 
what  is  laid  down  by  Dr.  Mather;  both  of  which 
it  may  be  faid  have  "whipped  the  Devil  round 
the  Stump,"  quite  fufBciently. 


A 

PRELIMINARY  DISSERTATION 

UPON 

Wutttvu  tonnttttV  tuftn  smithcraft 

As  the  Mifts  clear  up  from  the  Mountains,  fo 
is  Ignorance,  the  Parent  of  Superftition,  forced 
from  its  benighted  Places.  In  the  one  Cafe  the 
Mifts  of  the  Valleys  loofe  their  Hold  as  Cultiva- 
tion advances ;  hence  they  efcape  to  the  neighbour- 
ing Elevations,  and  even  there  are  forced  gradually 
to  recede,  and  fo  by  Degrees  finally  difappear. 
But  the  Mifts  of  Superftition,  hanging  over  the 
human  Family,  have  not  yet  been  entirely  difperfed 
by  the  Sun  of  Education  and  the  unerring 
Teachings  of  fcientifick  Difcoveries. 

That  Superftition  opprefles  the  World  at  large, 
even  to  this  Day,  cannot  be  difputed,  and  the 
ProfpecT:  appears  fmall  that  it  will  ever  be  other- 
wife.  While  it  is  true  that,  in  remote  and  thinly 
fettled  Regions  its  Reign  is  more  fupreme  than  in 
compact  and  cultivated  Communities,  it  is  equally 
true  that  it  has  a  Hold  here,  not  a  little  furprifing 
C 


xviii  Differ  tat  ion. 

to  thofe  accuftomed  to  contemplate,  and  allow 
themfelves  to  view  Mankind  as  they  are.  There  is 
Antagonifm  between  Reafon  and  Superftition;  a 
Warfare  which  has  continued  for  Ages.  And  it  muft 
be  conceded  that,  upon  the  whole,  the  Victory  is 
ftill  with  the  latter.  Science  and  its  true  Votaries 
repofe  with  their  Armour  on,  have  gained  the  Vic- 
tory for  themfelves,  thrown  up  their  limited  Breaft- 
works,  and  faid  to  their  Enemy  on  the  mountain 
Slopes,  "We  have  no  Intention  to  diflodge  you. 
We  know  you  are  numerous  and  a  great  Power  in 
the  World.  We  will  uphold  your  Supremacy, 
allow  your  Flag  to  be  flaunted  over  us  and  in  our 
Faces  even ;  but  we  have  the  Satisfaction  of  know- 
ing your  Pretenfions  are  falfe,  and  that  your  Empire 
muft  come  to  an  End." 

It  is  thus  that  an  Empire  founded  in  Intolerance,  is 
fubmitted  to  by  its  lefs  powerful  Neighbour,  under 
the  falfe  Conclufion  that  its  AfTumptions  and  Su- 
perftitions  are  neceflary  Evils ;  and  therefore  while 
knowing  their  Rights  dare  not  maintain  them; 
becaufe  thofe  Rights  are  declared  unpopular, 
and  fubverfive  of  eftablifhed  Cuftoms  —  Cuftoms 
founded  in,  what  now  muft  appear  to  all  who  think 
without  Prejudice,  a  moft  tranfparent  Syftem  of 
Deception. 


DiJJertation.  xix 

The  unexampled  Efforts  to  hold  the  World  in 
Ignorance,  and  the  vaft  Amounts  of  Treafure  ex- 
pended to  propagate  and  maintain  falfe  Opinions, 
may  fafely  be  faid,  to  be  fufficient  to  have,  ere  this, 
educated  the  enflaved  Millions  paft  and  prefent, 
in  Truths  of  the  firft  Importance  to  the  Stability 
of  Nations,  and  the  Peace  and  Happinefs  of  all 

.People. 

/But  whoever  hopes  or  expects  to  abolifh  or  an- 
nihilate Antagonifm,  may  hope  and  expect  to  the 
End  of  Time.  It  is  a  Principle  in  Nature,  and  can 
no  more  be  annihilated  or  obliterated  than  any 
Principle  in  the  material  Univerfe.  There  is  No- 
thing without  it,  becaufe  Nothing  can  exift  with- 
out it.  And  when  it  is  fully  understood,  Nations 
and  Communities  may  work  together  for  the  ge- 
neral Good  of  all ;  as  it  keeps  the  Planets  in  their 
Courfe,  and  all  Things  in  their  Places  upon  and 
around  them.  The  fame  Principles  exift  in  the 
animate  as  in  the  inanimate  World.  Their  Opera- 
tion or  Action  in  animal  Life  may  be  termed  Spirit y 
and  the  two  antagoniftick  Principles  here,  being  as 
eflential  as  in  inanimate  Nature,  and  being  as  little 
underftood,  are  denominated  good  and  bad;  which 
attributes  depend  entirely  on  their  Management  as 
refpects  their  Agency.    Thus,  Fire  and  Water  are,  in 


xx  Differ  tat  ion. 

certain  Conditions,  terrible  Agencies,  and  being 
ftrikingly  antagoniftick,  ferve  to  illuftrate  the 
Theory.  They  may  be  faid  to  be  the  Origin  of  every 
Good  and  every  Evil.  They  largely  enter  into  the 
Compofition  of  all  Bodies.  It  is  the  antagoniftick 
Principle  that  keeps  them  there,  and  they  fall 
afunder  by  the  Action  of  other  antagoniftick  Agen- 
cies, as  incomprehenfible  as  thofe  we  have  juft 
mentioned.  Whoever  pretends  to  comprehend  or 
explain  them  is  either  deficient  in  mental  Endow- 
ment, or  is  a  Pretender  and  Deceiver. 
-  A  Power  actuates  Humanity,  or  Powers,  if  we 
pleafe,  but  of  which  we  know  no  more  than  of  that 
which  caufes  the  Sun  to  rife.  This  Power  is  Life, 
and  into  this  enters  the  antagoniftick  Principles. 
This  we  know,  becaufe,  we  at  the  fame  Time  are 
confcious  of  two  Motives  in  our  Mind  at  the  fame 
Time ;  one  urging  the  Performance  of  an  Action 
and  the  other  refifting  it.  The  Minds  of  intelligent 
Beings  thus  circumftanced  gave  rife  to  the  Idea 
among  primitive  People,  that  thefe  two  Motives 
were  caufed  by  a  good  and  an  evil  Spirit.  If,  in  fol- 
lowing the  one,  the  Refult  was  to  all  Appearances, 
to  the  Injury  of  no  one,  but  on  the  Contrary,  re- 
fultedin  Benefits  to  fome,  it  went  to  the  Credit  of 
the  good  Spirit ;  while,  if  the  Refult  was  injurious, 


Differtation.  xxi 


it  was  pronounced  Evil,  and  the  Performer  a 
Do-evil  or  Devil.1 

Another  View  may  be  taken  of  the  Powers  of 
Actions :  What  may  appear  as  an  Evil  under  fome 
Circumftances,  may,  under  others,  be  pronounced 
Benefits.  Hence  arifes  the  Saying  that  what  is 
good  for  one  Perfon  may  be  bad  for  another;  or, 
according  to  the  Proverb,  "  It  is  an  ill  Wind  that 
blows  good  to  no  one."  Sailors  once  thought, 
that,  when  Winds  kept  them  long  from  their 
Courfe,  they  were  caufed  by  fome  evil  Spirit ;  and 
they  fometimes  charged  one  or  more  of  their 
Number  as  the  Authors  of  fuch  adverfe  Wind,  laid 
violent  Hands  upon  them  and  caft  them  into  the 
Sea.  His  Executioners  did  not  reflect,  that  the 
Wind  againft  which  they  were  contending,  was 
carrying  thofe  bound  in  the  oppofite  Direction  to 
their  defired  Haven.  Neither  did  they  reflect,  that 
if  a  Mortal  could  control  one  of  the  Elements,  it 
would  be  Angular  indeed  if  he  could  not  control 
others,  and  thereby  render  their  Efforts  of  no  Avail. 

At  the  Time  New  England  began  to  be  fettled 
the  Belief  in  Leagues  with  the  Powers  of  Darknefs 
by  frail  human  Beings  was  nearly  univerfal.     The 

1  This  may  not  be  according  to     Purpofe. 
the  Lexicographers,  but  it  fuits  our 


xxii  Differ tat  ion. 

Power  or  Principle  before  fpoken  of  feems  to  have 
found  no  Place  in  the  human  Intellect.  Educa- 
tion was  controlled  and  fhaped  according  to  the 
Dogmas  of  the  dark  Ages.  It  is  ftill  in  a  great 
Meafure  under  the  Preffure  of  that  Incubus.  So 
wedded  do  Men  become  to  Abfurdities,  becaufe 
they  are  fandtioned  and  believed  by  their  Prede- 
ceflbrs,  that  they  feemingly  become  a  Part  of  their 
Natures.  And,  Deceptions  practiced  in  an  Age  of 
almoft  heathen  Darknefs,  which  would  not  gain 
a  Moment's  Credence  in  this  Age,  are  clung  to  with 
as  much  Faith  as  they  were  by  the  weakeft  Minds 
in  the  Age  of  their  Creation. 

As  the  all-pervading  Principle  of  the  Univerfe 
could  not  be  underftood,  its  Myftery  was  pretended 
to  be  folved  to  a  certain  Degree  by  dividing  it  into 
a  good  and  a  bad  controlling  Power.  There  was, 
and  is  to  this  Day,  among  unenlightened  People, 
oppofite  Opinions  held,  as  to  the  controlling  of 
thofe  Powers.  t(  Some  believe  that  natural  Pheno- 
mena, as  Earthquakes,  Thunder,  and  all  other 
threatening  Difturbances  of  the  Elements  are  the 
Work  of  evil  Spirits.  \  Hence  that  Caufe  was  to 
be  worfhipped,  and  Sacrifices  made  to  it  to  propi- 
tiate it;  hoping  thereby  to  avert  the  Evil  from 
themfelves. 


Dijfertation.  xxiii 

Plagues,  Tempefts,  Inundations,  and  indeed  all 
Occurrences  unexplainable  by  human  Sagacity  are 
Miracles.  Science,  however,  has  diminifhed  their 
Number,  and  rendered  many  natural  Refults,  form- 
erly viewed  as  Miracles  no  Miracles  at  all.  When 
a  Town  or  City  was  fwallowed  up  by  the  Opening 
of  the  Earth  under  it,  and  all  its  People  cut  off  by 
it,  thofe  of  other  Places  tried  to  perfuade  themfelves 
that  it  was  not  their  Lot  to  meet  fuch  a  Doom, 
becaufe  they  were  a  better  Community!  Such 
Events  were  in  the  Mind  of  the  great  poetical 
Philofopher  when  he  wrote  the  following  tran- 
fcendently  beautiful  Lines: 

"  But  errs  not  Nature  from  its  gracious  End, 
From  burning  Suns  when  livid  Deaths  defcend; 
When  Earthquakes  fwallow,  or  when  Tempefts  fweep 
Towns  to  one  Grave,  whole  Nations  to  the  Deep  ? " 

Another  has  beautifully  expreffed  himfelf  thus : 

"Think  ye  that  they  on  whom  the  Ruin  fell, 
Were  worfe  than  thofe  who  lived  their  Fate  to  tell  ? " 

Thus,  in  all  Ages  and  in  all  Countries  Superfti- 
tion  held  Mankind  in  thofe  difmal  Fetters,  until 
Science  by  Degrees  has  partially  relieved  them. 
It  had  not  made  fuch  flow  Progrefs  but  for  the 
I  inherent  Love  of  Myftery  fo  firmly  enthroned  in 
the  human    Mind.     Nor  is  it  ftrange  that  it  is 


xxiv  Dijfertation. 

thus,  becaufe  the  Birth  of  all  Things  is  a  My  fiery  — 
a  Miracle  if  you  will  —  to  every  one.  Our  Being 
and  the  Being  of  all  Things  are  equally  fo.  No 
primeval  Forefts  of  a  new  World  are  neceffary, 
by  their  gloomy  Silence  to  engender  indefcribable 
Forms,  in  the  Imagination.  The  Countries 
whence  our  Anceftors  came  had  few  of  thefe. 
Lonely  ivied  Ruins  and  Solitary  Depofitories  of 
the  Dead  they  had  indeed,  if  fuch  were  neceffary 
to  the  Propagation  and  Production  of  Witches, 
and  their  kindred  Ghofts  and  Apparitions. 

Strange  and  contradictory  Notions  have  always 
prevailed  regarding  the  Being,  Powers  and  Agen- 
cies of  Witches;  and  in  the  Attempts  of  "Believ- 
ers "  to  explain  them,  they  have  by  their  Contradic- 
tions, and  Affumptions  of  Things  as  Facts  which 
had  no  Exiftence  except  in  their  difordered  or 
confufed  Brains,  confounded  the  Underftandings  of 
thofe  whom  they  pretended  to  enlighten. 

Such  a  Clafs  of  Inftructors  has  written  numerous 
Works  on  the  Origin  of  Evil,  and  Original  Sin. 
If  by  fuch  Books  they  have  advanced  Knowledge 
a  Hair's  Breadth  in  the  Direction  intended,  it  may 
perhaps  be  found  exhibited  in  the  more  modern 
Effays  of  a  tranfcendental  Character.  If  thefe  or 
thofe  Writers  have  made  the  World  better,  they 


Differ  tat  ion.  xxv 

have  certainly  taken  a  round-about  Way  for  it; 
and  with  the  fame  Kind  of  Teachings  it  is  quite 
certain  that  much  Time  will  elapfe  before  the 
People  "of  the  moft  enlightened  Country  on  the 
Globe "  will  be  fufficiently  enlightened  to  diftin- 
guifh  whether  a  Man  will  make  a  good  or  bad 
chief  Magistrate  of  a  Town  or  of  the  Nation; 
yet,  with  fuch  Light  as  is  fuppofed  to  furround  a 
Centre  of  Intelligence,  a  moft  contemptible  Dema- 
gogue may  fucceed  in  obtaining  what  had  hitherto 
been  deemed  a  high  Pofition,  but  by  him  fo 
degraded  that  it  may  be  a  Queftion  whether  the 
Pofition  will  confer  Honor  on  a  Succeflbr. 

It  is  evident  that  when  our  Anceftors  left  the 
Shores  of  England,  they  did  not  leave  behind  them 
the  Superftitions  of  their  Progenitors.  From  the 
remoteft  period  Stories  of  the  moft  marvellous 
Character  had  been  tranfmitted  from  thofe  of  one 
Generation  to  the  fucceeding  one,  and  there  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  any  Time  when  the 
World  was  free  from  the  Vifitations  of  what  was 
termed  Witchcraft.  There  was  indeed  a  fhort 
Period  after  the  Settlement  of  this  Country  that 
little  feems  to  have  been  heard  about  it.  This 
Paucity  was  doubtlefs  owing  to  the  Circumftance 

that  Everyone  had  too  much    to  do  to  provide 
D 


xx  vi  Differ  tat  ion. 

himfelf  with  the  Neceflaries  of  Life,  to  allow  his 
Mind  to  dwell  on  Matters,  which,  if  clofely  fol- 
lowed up,  could  lead  to  Nothing  but  Poverty, 
Starvation  and  Ruin. 

Yet  all  through  thofe  few  Years  between  the 
coming  over  and  the  first  Outbreak  of  Witchcraft, 
it  was  fmouldering  among  the  People,  like  the 
internal  Fires  of  the  Earth  preparatory  to  a  volcanic 
Eruption. 

It  appears  that  the  People  of  the  New  Haven 
Colony  were  the  firft  to  be  difturbed  by  "the 
Powers  of  the  Invifible  World,"  but  the  Records 
of  the  early  Affairs  are  very  deficient,  and  afford 
but  an  imperfect  Infight  into  them.  The  early 
Enactments  of  Laws  against  Witches  were  occa- 
fioned  by  Accufations  of  Perfons  believed  or 
pretended  to  be  fuch.  Of  this  there  can  be  no 
Doubt.  But  no  Records  of  Accufations  appear 
previous  to  the  Laws,  notwithstanding  they  were 
the  Occafion  of  fuch  Laws. 

As  early  as  1642,1  the  Laws  defined  eleven 
Crimes    punifhable    by    Death.     The  Second  in 

1  It  is  fcarcely  neceflary  to  ftate  to  the  King's  Opinion  of  Devils  and 

that    all     the    Proceedings     againft  Witches,  and  to  the  Book  he  wrote, 

Witches  in  England  and  this  Coun-  entitled  Demonology,  reprinted  in 

try,  were  in  Puriuance  of  the  Act  London  the    fame    Year     (1603.) 

parTed    by    the   Britifh  Parliament,  See    Witchcraft    Delufion    in  New 

in  Compliment,  (as  De  Foe  fays)  England,  T,  xliii. 


Dijfertation.  xxvii 

the  Series  reads,  "Yf  any  Man  or  Woman  be  a 
Witch,  that  is,  hath  or  confulteth  with  a  familiar 
Spirit,  they  fhall  be  put  to  Death."  This  is 
agreeable  to  the  thirteenth  and  fixth,  feventeenth 
and  fecond  of  Deuteronomy,  and  Exodus  the 
twenty-fecond  and  twentieth.  No  Perfon,  there- 
fore, could  have  the  Hardihood  to  open  his  Mouth 
to  queftion  fuch  a  Law.  To  define  what  was 
meant  by  Witchcraft  and  what  were  the  Attributes 
of  a  Witch,  Refort  was  probably  had  to  Books  on 
Witchcraft,  as  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
any  generally  fettled  Idea  or  acknowledged  Stand- 
ard for  Definitions  of  any  Kind,  though  it  is  true 
that  Dictionaries  of  the  Englifh  Language,  or 
rather  of  many  (for  there  was  no  Completenefs 
to  them)  Englifh  Words  had  been  publifhed  a  few 
Years  before  the  great  and  final  Outbreak  of 
1692-3.  Hence  we  are  told,  that  People  had 
different  Opinions  about  Trials,  and  Statutes  on 
the  Subject.  We  are  told  too,  that  many  faw 
the  Danger  of  Proceeding  in  Trials  of  the  accufed, 
but  that  none  had  the  moral  Courage  to  oppofe 
such  Proceedings ;  for  the  Few  in  Authority  were 
viewed  as  infallible  by  the  great  Body  of  the 
People.  To  deny  the  Authority  of  Rulers  was 
next  to  a  capital  Offence.     The  Courts  did  not 


xxviii  DiJJertation. 

have  the  Sanation  of  Lord  Chief  Juftice  Hale,  for 
his  Matters  of  FacJ  concerning  Witches  and  Witch- 
craft was  not  printed  till  1693,  and  its  Licence  is 
dated  May  18th  of  the  fame  Year. 

It  is  a  pitiful  Extenuation  of  the  Acls  under 
Confideration,  that  they  were  thofe  of  pious  and 
good  People,  but  there  feems  to  be  nothing  better 
to  offer.  That  fuch  Men  as  Robert  Burton,  Lord 
Bacon,  and  Jofeph  Addifon  believed  in  Witchcraft ; 
and  that  Sir  William  Blackftone  "quite frowned " 
on  Difbelievers  in  it,1  and  that  Dr.  Samuel  Johnfon 
"more  than  inclined  to  the  fame  Side,"  only  proves, 
that  however  great  (in  common  Eftimation)  and 
learned  a  Man  may  be,  thefe  are  no  Guaranty  that 
his  Intellect  may  not  be  too  fhallow  at  fome  Points 
to  afford  a  Footing  for  common  Senfe.  Even  the 
great  Sir  Ifaac  Newton,  although  he  may  not  have 
come  in  Contact  with  Witchcraft,  was  as  fuperfti- 
tioufly  inclined  as  many  other  great  Minds  of  the 
Time  in  which  he  lived.  Perhaps  he  might  fafely 
be  claffed  with  the  learned  Cudworth,  with  his 

1  Judge  Blackftone's  Opinion,  as  that  having  a  Bill,  the  Genuinenefs  of 

given  in  his  Commentaries  (iv,  60,  which  he  was  unable  to  determine, 

ed.    1775),  on  the   Laws   of  Eng-  tookit  to  the  General  toget  his  Opin- 

land  amounts  to  about  as  much  as  did  ion.     After    considerable   Scrutiny, 

that  of  Gen.  Jackfon,  as  to  the  Gen-  the  Sage  replied,  that  he  thought  it 

uinenefs  of  a  Bank  Note,  as  related  by  was  about  middling  ! 
Major  Downing.     The  Major  states 


Differ tat  ion.  xxix 

three  kinds  of  Fatalifm,  who  maintained  that  thofe 
that  did  not  believe  in  the  Exiftence  of  Witchcraft 
were  Atheifts.  But  they  lived  in  Times  when  the 
abfurd  Opinion  prevailed,  that  Beliefs  were  fub- 
ject  to  the  Bidding  of  thofe  in  Authority;  and  to 
this  Day,  wherever  the  Minds  of  the  People  are 
under  thefe  Shackles,  human  Progrefs  is  kept  in 
Abeyance. 

The  Delufion  was  not  confined  to  any  particular 
Sect  in  Religion,  but  it  prevailed  about  equally 
among  Catholicks,  Proteftants,  and  the  Aborigines 
of  all  Countries.  It  is  probable,  however,  as  is 
elfewhere  remarked,  that  it  flourifhed  moft  where 
Ignorance  prevailed,  to  the  greateft  Degree. 

It  is  faid,  that  after  the  famous  Bull  of  Pope 
Innocent  the  VIII,  in  1484,  dooming  Witches  to 
Death,  the  Numbers  that  fufFered  furpaffes  all  ra- 
tional Belief.  It  became  a  Reign  of  Terror  in 
every  Land.  None  were  fafe,  but  every  Moment 
of  their  Lives  were  liable  to  be  feized  and  hurried 
before  Judges,  and  the  vileft  Fictions  given  in  and 
received  for  Evidence ;  all  of  which,  by  calm  and 
rational  Inveftigation,  would  generally  be  found  to 
have  had  its  Origin  in  fome  private  and  childifh 
Quarrels  among  Neighbours,  or  in  the  Brain  of 
fome  Individuals  whofe  Reafon  had  been  wrecked 


xxx  Dijfertation. 

by  Caufes  beyond  the  Power  of  thofe  profeffing 
"  Chirurgery"  to  underftand. 

But  whoever  has  attended  at  all  to  the  Hiftory 
of  the  Progrefs  of  human  Intelligence,  knows  that 
no  Section  of  Country  can  claim  an  Exemption 
from  having  been,  at  fome  Time,  under  the  hu- 
miliating and  combined  Powers  of  Ignorance  and 
Super ftition.  Yet,  as  Communities  advanced  into 
the  dim  Light  of  Knowledge,  fome  came  accident- 
ally in  Advance  of  others.  If  this  Advance  hap- 
pened to  be  owing  to  Circumftances  not  controlled 
by  fuperior  intellectual  Endowments,  it  would  mow 
a  Want  of  Civility  for  the  more  fortunate  to  taunt 
the  lefs  fo  by  Flings  to  remind  them  of  a  former 
degraded  Condition,  from  which  themfelves  had 
juft  emerged.  We  remark  this,  becaufe  many 
Writers  and  Speakers  refer  to  the  Delufions  of 
1692,  and  1693  as  though  they  were  the  firft,  laft 
and  only  ones  ever  known  in  all  the  World. 
Hence  many  imagine  that  Salem  was  worfe  than 
Sodom ;  while  the  Truth  is,  the  mournful  Calamity 
of  Witchcraft  neither  began  nor  ended  at  Salem. 

Some  of  the  fame  Clafs  of  Writers  of  the  prefent 
Day,  if  not  infidioufly,  ignorantly  fpeak  of 
"Witchcraft  among  the  Puritans,"  as  though  it 
was  Something   peculiar   to   that   Sect;  although 


Differ  tat  ion.  xxxi 

they  may  not  intend  to  give  that  Impreffion,  it 
will  neverthelefs  be  inferred  by  cafual  and  fuper- 
ficial  Readers.  It  mould  be  expreffly  ftated  that 
the  Delufion  came  to  an  End  only  by  the  Light 
fent  forth  by  that  much  abufed  Denomination. 

It  is  not  a  Cuftom  among  the  moft  enlightened 
to  harp  and  ring  Changes  upon  Puritans  and 
Witchcraft.  It  favors  of  the  Times  fucceeding 
the  Reftoration  of  the  Stuarts,  in  the  Perfon  of 
Charles  the  Second.  Writers  then  pointed  to  the 
Cromwellian  Period  as  that  in  which  Witchcraft 
flourifhed  more  than  ever  before,  which  only  be- 
trayed their  Ignorance  of  its  previous  Hiftory.1 

The  amiable  and  excellent  Dwight  remarks 
to  fuch  as  are  here  fpoken  of,  "  the  early  Settlers  of 
New  England  have  been  accufed  of  Superftition. 
In  fome  Degree  juftly.  To  what  Nation  is  it  not 
applicable?  Their  Defcendants  hung  the  Witches 
at  Salem,  and  for  this  Conduct  merited  the  fever- 
eft  Cenfure.  Still  the  New  England  People  were 
as  little  ftained  with  this  Guilt,  as  thofe  who  with 
as  little  Indecency  exult  over  their  Faults  and  Er- 
rors."2   It  might  be  well  to  inquire  what  Clafs  of 

1  Sycophantick  and  bigoted  Lloyd,     cans. —  State  Worthies,  Page  209 
gives  Currency  to  a  Story  about  the     edition  1668. 
Declaration  of  a  Witch,  in  Favour 

of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Republi-         2  Travels  in    New   England,  I, 

135- 


xxxii  Differ 'tat  ion. 

People  it  was  who  "  indecently  "  exulted  over  the 
Faults  and  Errors  of  the  Puritans  of  New  England  ? 
That  Queftion  has  been  anfwered  fo  triumphantly, 
and  handled  fo  mafterly  by  the  accomplifhed  Dr. 
Bacon,  that  if  the  Revilers  of  the  Puritans  will 
read  it  with  Candour,  it  would  feal  their  Mouths 
forever.1 

Elaborate  "Chronicles"  and  "Hiftories  of  New 
England"  have  been  written  without  noticing  the 
Troubles  of  the  People  occafioned  by  their  Su- 
perftition  and  Belief  in  an  Agency  of  the  Devil. 
As  well  might  a  Hiftory  of  the  Country  be  written 
leaving  out  what  a  Belief  in  Chriftianity  has 
done.2  And  yet,  from  Intimations  like  the  follow- 
ing, we  fee  what  Terrors  our  Anceftors  lived  in, 
and  by  which  their  Advance  in  all  intellectual 
Improvement  muft  have  been  greatly  impeded: 
"I  could  with  unqueji  ion  able  Evidence  relate  the 
tragical  Deaths  of  feveral  good  Men  in  this  Land 
attended  with  fuch  preternatural  Circwnjlances"! 
as  that  of  Mr.  Philip  Smith. 

To  thofe  who  wonder  that  People  ever  believed 


1  Thirteen  Hifiorical  Difcourfes,     we  judge  by    the  Abfence  of  any 
33,  &c.  Reference  to  the  SubjecT:  in    their 

Indexes. 

2  Neither  Young  nor  Palfrey  has 

taken  any  Notice  of  Witchcraft,  if         3  Mather,  Magnalia. 


Differtation.  xxxiii 

in,  and  profecuted  fuppofed  Witches  in  New  Eng- 
land, we  recommend  them  to  inquire  if  there  be 
not  yet  thofe  labouring  under  a  Superftition  them- 
felves,  equally  reprehenfible  for  the  Times  in 
which  they  live. 

By  many  it  has  been  urged  in  Extenuation  of 
what  was  done  in  New  England  in  Refpect  to 
Witchcraft,  that  it  was  much  worfe  in  every 
Country  of  Europe  at  the  fame  Time  and  long 
after.  Let  that  Confideration  excufe  us  as  far  as 
it  may ;  while  the  Confolation  thus  afforded  is  the 
fame  as  in  a  Cafe  of  Lofs  to  a  Man  who  had 
learned  that  his  Neighbour  had  been  equally  un- 
fortunate; or,  to  confole  ourfelves  we  had  found 
out  that  Ignorance  and  Superftition  prevailed  to  as 
great,  if  not  in  a  greater  Degree,  in  Europe,  than 
in  New  England.  Thus  Dr.  Cotton  Mather 
brings  forward  feveral  Cafes  of  European  Witch- 
craft as  a  Sort  of  Palliative  for  thofe  in  this 
Country.  Certainly  if  European  Examples  are 
any  Excufe  we  have  enough  of  them.  For  the 
Remark  of  Hutchinfon  will,  on  Examination  be 
found  to  be  true,  namely,  that  "more  had  been 
put  to  Death  in  a  fingle  County  in  England,  in  a 
fhort  Space  of  Time,  than  have  fuffered  in  all 
E 


xxxiv  Dijfertation. 

New   England  from  the   firft   Settlement   to   his 
Time." 

No  Matter  what  has  been  done  elfewhere.  It 
excufes  us  in  the  fame  Way  as  we  are  excufed  for 
having  Progenitors,  born  in  a  Country  where 
it  was  Infidelity  not  to  believe  in  Witchcraft. 
Viewing  the  Matter  in  this  Light,  we  find  a  weftern 
Bifhop  indulging  in  Sentiments  likethefe:  "We 
can  fcarcely  even  guefs,  why  it  was  that  the 
Witches  took  fo  remarkable  a  Fancy  to  the  early 
Yankees.  Whether  it  was  that  there  was  fome 
fecret  Congeniality  of  Feeling  between  the  two, 
or  that  the  Devil  envied,  and  fought  to  mar  by 
his  diabolical  Incantations,  the  extraordinary  Sanc- 
tity of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  we  know  not."  Then, 
after  copious  Extracts  from  that  Part  of  Dr. 
Mather's  Magnalia  devoted  to  Witchcraft,  this 
model  Bifhop  flippantly,  and  doubtlefs  fatisfaclo- 
rily  to  himfelf,  proceeds:  "Verily,  if  all  thefe 
Things  be  true,  we  muft  admit  that  the  Demons 
were  particularly  intimate  with  the  early  Puritans 
of  New  England;  rather  more,  in  Fact,  than  was 
at  all  comfortable  for  the  Latter.  Shrewd  and 
calculating  as  were  the  early  Yankees,  the  Imps 
who  played  fuch  fantaftick  Tricks  among  them, 
were  much  fhrewder.     The  invifible  Spirits  knew 


Differtation.  xxxv 

their  Trade  much  better  than- to  try  wooden  Hams 
or  Nutmegs,  or  to  attempt  the  impoffible  Talk  of 
overreaching  their  Friends  in  a  Bargain." 

When  fuch  are  the  Inculcations  of  a  fouth-weft- 
ern  Head  of  the  Church,  we  ought  not  to  expect 
Anything  but  ruffianly  Treatment  when  any  of 
us  of  New  England  happen  to  travel  into  that 
Region.  We  are  forry  to  obferve  that  this  Bifhop 
bears  a  New  England  Surname,  yet  he  may  never 
have  feen  the  Country  of  which  he  fo  fneeringly 
fpeaks,  while  he  may  know  by  this  Time,  that  to 
fuch  Apofiles  as  he,  is  mainly  attributable  the 
bloody  Scenes  of  a  four  years'  Rebellion. 

It  is  not  fo  ftrange  that  ignorant  People  mould 
be  found  even  in  great  Cities  wallowing  in  Super- 
ftition,  and  believing  in  the  Reality  of  Witchcraft; 
but  that  Men  accuftomed  to  literary  Society  mould 
be  the  Dupes  of  fuch  Abfurdities  amidft  the 
Means  of  daily  Improvement,  is  not  fo  eafily 
comprehended. 

In  all  Periods  of  Hiftory  have  appeared  Prophets, 
or  Pretenders  to  the  Ability  to  foretell  future 
Events.  As  Witches  were  fuppofed  to  be  able  to 
do  this  they  too  were  Prophets;  but  to  the  Ap- 
prehenfion  of  fenfible  People  of  this  Age,  there 
are  few  more  contemptible  Beings  than  thofe  who 


xxx  vi  Dijfertation. 

are  going  about  prating  of  an  approaching  Mil- 
lennium, pretending  to  fix  the  Date  when  Chrift 
is  to  make  his  Appearance.  Illiterate  People,  like 
the  late  William  Miller,  who  have  fcarcely  read 
Anything  except  the  Bible,  may  claim  fome 
Excufe  for  not  knowing  how  many  have,  from 
attual  Calculations,  fixed  upon  the  precife  Day 
and  even  Hour  of  that  Event.  It  would  feem,  that 
if  thefe  millennium  Quacks  mould  once  fee  a 
Catalogue  of  thofe  Prophecies,  and  learn  the 
Confidence  with  which  they  were  put  forth,  and 
that  their  Calculations  were  as  well  grounded  as 
any  that  can  in  Reafon  be  made,  from  the  Premifes 
made  Ufe  of,  the  World  might  in  Future  be  relieved 
from  the  Infliction  of  Floods  of ///-literature  upon 
this  Subject.  But,  as  though  Mankind  had  learned 
Nothing  from  the  Paft  in  this  Refpedt,  we  fee  the 
Prefs  teeming  with  millennium  humbug  Pamph- 
lets even  to  our  own  Times.  And  however 
this  may  be  viewed,  it  is  only  a  Branch  of  that 
Superftition,  out  of  which  Witchcraft  is  another 
and  perhaps  earlier  Branch. 

Great  Pains  have  been  taken  to  explain  away 
the  Devil  out  of  the  New  Teftament,  by  Attempts 
to  prove  that  the  plaineft  Language  is,  and  always 
has  been  mifunderftood.     When    to    Perfons    of 


Differ  tat  ion.  xxxvii 

ordinary  common  Senfe  it  is  perfectly  clear,  that  if 
what  is  written  and  received  as  the  Word  of  God 
means  Anything  it  means  what  it  fays.  Neverthe- 
lefs  we  meet  with  fome  moft  ingenious  and  learned 
Arguments,  turning  all  PafTages  where  the  Devil 
figures  into  Allegories,  while  they  do  not  meddle 
with  Witches.1 

The  eminent  Dr.  Lardner  has  proved  to  the 
Satisfaction  of  Thoufands  that  the  New  Teftament 
is  full  of  Facts  fuftaining  the  Words  of  thofe 
Books  as  they  ftand,  literally.2  Befides,  every  good 
Lutheran  believes  in  the  perfonal  Encounter  the 
old  Saint  of  Erfurth  had  with  the  Devil  on  a  cer- 
tain Occafion.  And  one  much  nearer  the  Time 
of  the  Event  than  we  are  fays : 

"Did  not  the  Devil  appear  to  Martin 
Luther  in  Germany,  for  certain? 
And  would  have  gull'd  him  with  a  Trick, 
But  Mart,  was  too,  too  politick  ? " 

Thus  verifying  to  his  early  Friends,  (the  Cath- 
olicks),  their  old  Proverb,  "that  a  young  Saint  will 
prove  an  old  Devil."  Yet,  one  of  our  early  New 
England  Divines  believed  with  Erafmus,  who  faid 
"the  Devil  was  the  Author  of  that  Proverb."3 

i  The   Rev.  M.     C.    Conway's         3  See  Dr.  I.    Mather's   Eleclion 
Natural  Hiftory  of  the  Devil.  Sermon,  1677,  P.  101. 

2  Cafe  of  the  Demoniacs.  1758. 


xxx  viii  Differ  tat  ion . 

The  Undertaking  would  be  by  no  Means  in- 
confiderable,  to  collect  even  the  Titles  of  Works 
on  the  Subject  of  Witchcraft,  without  including 
thofe  of  our  own  Times.  For  the  laft  half  Century 
they  have  been  iflued  generally  as  Novels,  but 
fome  of  them  fo  artfully  that  many  have  doubtlefs 
taken  them  for  Realities.  Here  is  a  Specimen: 
The  Phantom  World,  tranflated  from  the  French 
of  Calmet,  with  a  Preface  and  Notes  by  [the]  Rev, 
Henry  Chrijimas ;  giving  a  general  Survey  of  the 
Hi/lory  and  Philofophy  of  Spirits,  Ghojls,  Elves, 
Fairies,  Spooks,  Bogles,  Bugaboos,  and  Hobgoblins. 
Upon  this  Title  one,  a  Writer  in  a  popular 
Work,  remarked :  "  It  will  probably  meet  with 
an  exteniive  Circulation,  in  thefe  Days  when 
Connecticut  Divines  are  haunted  by  infernal  Vifits, 
and  the  Rochefter  Sibyls  are  on  Exhibition  in 
New  York." 

When  the  above  Announcement  was  made, 
about  eighteen  Years  ago,  the  Farce  of  Spirit-rap- 
pings and  Table-turnings  was  at  its  Height;  and  it 
was  reported,  with  what  of  Truth  we  cannot  fay, 
that  a  Number  of  Believers  in  thefe  "fpiritual 
Manifeftations  "  had  formed  a  Settlement  at  a  Place 
called  Mountain  Cave,  in  Fayette  County  in 
Virginia,    having    purchafed    fourteen    thoufand 


Differ  tation.  xxxix 

Dollars'  Worth  of  farming  Lands  thereabouts,  and 
that  Families  were  being  added  to  the  firft 
Adventurers  which  had  previoufly  refided  at  Au- 
burn in  New  York.  They  carried  on  the  Iffue  of 
Newfpapers,  the  Writings  in  which  were  "the 
Dictation  of  the  Spirits/'  Whether  this  Com- 
munity was  in  Exiftence  in  the  Time  of  the  late 
Rebellion,  we  have  not  heard.  This  is  introduced 
as  another  Illuftration  of  what  has  been  often 
afferted,  that  there  is  Nothing  too  abfurd  or  ridicu- 
lous, where  Myftery  lies  at  the  Bottom,  to  obtain 
devoted  Followers.  About  the  Time  this  Colony 
of  Spiritual  Rappers  was  formed,  fome  waggifh 
Editor  remarked :  "  Somewhere  in  Virginia,  is  a 
Place  called  Mountain  Cave,  where  Spiritual  Rap- 
pers have  colonized  in  large  Numbers  and  ftarted  a 
Paper.  The  Covies,  fays  the  New  York  Dutch- 
man, have  bored  a  Hole  down  through  this  poor 
contemptible  Hemifphere  and  can  fee  clean  into 
the  next  World." 

Having  become  tired  of  the  old  Notions  of 
Revelation  taught  them  by  their  Anceftors,  new 
Theories  are  invented.  Thofe  find  Followers  for 
a  Time,  and  are  then  fucceeded  by  others ;  which, 
though  equally  fhallow  and  abfurd,  have  their 
Followers;  and  thus  it  will  probably  always  be, 


w   OF  THE 


xl  Differ  tation. 

becaufe  all  People  are  born  in  Ignorance  and  have 
Everything  to  learn. 

The  Thoufands,  if  not  Millions  of  Volumes 
which  have  been  written  and  circulated  for  the 
Enlightenment  of  the  ignorant  World  regarding 
a  future  State  and  Things  appertaining  thereto 
cannot  but  be  immeafurably  bewildering  to  all 
thofe  who  are  inclined  to  confult  them  for  the 
kind  of  Information  moft  interefting,  and  in  their 
Opinion,  moft  important  to  them.  Nor  will  it 
ever  be  otherwife  fo  long  as  the  Writers  of  fuch 
Works  as  we  refer  to  bafe  all  their  crude  Argu- 
ments on  falfe  Foundations,  or  rather  on  no 
Foundation  at  all.  With  this  Clafs  of  Writers  it 
makes  no  Difference  how  often  their  Foundations 
have  been  mown  to  be  falfe,  they  have  no  Will  to 
defert  them.  They  begin  and  end  their  Labours 
on  ArTumption.  To  explain  away  Witches  from 
the  Bible  has  occupied  Pens  which  mould  have 
been  better  employed.  The  fame  may  be  faid  of 
thofe  who  have  attempted  to  argue  the  Devil  out 
of  the  New  Teftament.  The  elegant  Style  of 
Lardner  has  effected  Nothing  but  an  Exhibition 
of  fine  Writing.  His  lateft  Imitators  will  foon 
be  forgotten,  though  fome  of  them  may  have  been 
read  on  Account  of  the  Singularity  of  their  Subject. 


Dijfertation.  xli 

One  who  wrote  anonymoufly,  and  publifhed  his 
"Eflay"  in  1833,  among  fome  senfible  Remarks 
has  this:  "Thofe  who  think  that  Demoniacks 
were  actually  tortured  by  the  Devil  —  that  he 
brought  Diforders  upon  them  —  threw  them 
down — prevented  them  from  fpeaking,  hearing, 
and  feeing,  generally  fay  it  was  Something  peculiar 
to  that  Age,"  &c.  To  which  this  ErTayift  very 
fignificantly  inquires,  why  it  was  that  the  Devil 
always  threw  his  Victims  down,  and  never  threw 
them  up?  There  was  publifhed  the  previous 
Year  an  EJfay  on  the  Demoniacs  of  the  New  Tejia- 
ment,  accompanied  by  the  well  known  Initials  of 
E.  S.  G.  In  this  there  is  fuch  a  nice  balancing 
of  fyllogiftick  Ideas,  that  a  common  Mind  may 
find  itfelf  bewildered  and  in  ferious  Doubt  whether 
the  Writer  does  really  mean  Anything. 

In  an  Attempt  to  controvert  the  Theories  of 
modern  Spiritualifts,  a  Preacher  tells  us  that 
"what  was  Falfehood  and  Impofture  in  the  Days 
of  the  Hebrew  Commonwealth,  has  not  become 
by  the  mere  Lapfe  of  Time,  a  great  and  beneficent 
Difcovery,  opening  new  Fountains  of  Knowledge." 
At  the  fame  Time  he  tells  us  that  Spiritualifm 
"is  a  Branch  of  the  Art  of  Divination  practifed 
in  the  Old  World  from  Time  Immemorial." 
F 


xlii  Dijfertation. 

But  it  is  better  to  give  Things  their  real  Names. 
It  is  not  eafy  to  diftinguifh  between  a  Branch  of 
this  Kind  and  the  Tree  itfelf.  The  Truth  feems 
to  be,  that  the  Witchcraft  of  former  Days  had 
become  fo  unpopular,  that  it  could  not  be  made 
any  longer  to  fubferve  the  Interefts  of  thofe  who 
practifed  it.  Hence  it  is  given  a  new  Name,  and 
yet  retains  the  fame  Myftery  of  Development. 

Fortune-telling  is  as  much  a  Branch  of  Witch- 
craft as  Spirit-rapping,  Table-turning,  or  any 
other  of  the  "occult  Sciences."  Thefe  are  the 
legitimate  Progenitors  of  Ghofts  or  Apparitions. 
It  would  not  require  a  very  dark  Night  to  produce 
thefe  Spectres  in  the  Imagination  of  thofe  return- 
ing from  a  Vilit  to  a  Fortune-teller,  or  by  paffing 
the  filent  and  lonely  Church-yard.  How  woe- 
fully did  our  Quaker  Poet  err,  when  he  fancied 
he  was  ringing  a  Requiem  over  the  laft  Witch 
of  his  native  Land  in  thefe  Lines :  — 

"  How  has  New  England's  Romance  fled, 

Even  as  a  Vifion  of  the  Morning! 
Its  Rites  foregone  —  its  Guardians  dead  — 
Its  Altar-fires  extinguifhed  — 
Its  PrieftefTes,  bereft  of  Dread, 

Waking  the  verieft  Urchins  fcorning ! 
No  more  along  the  fhadowy  Glen, 
Glide  the  dim  Ghofts  of  murdered  Men, — 


Differ 'tat  ion.  xliii 

No  more  the  Unquiet  Church-yard  Dead, 
Glimpfe  upward  from  their  turfy  Bed, 

Startling  the  Traveller,  late  and  loane ; 
As,  on  fome  Night  of  cloudy  Weather, 
They  commune  filently  together, 

Each  fitting  on  his  own  Head-ftone! 
The  rooflefs  Houfe,  decayed,  deferted, 
Its  living  Tenants  all  departed, 
No  longer  rings  with  Midnight  Revel, 
Of  Witch,  or  Ghoft,  or  Goblin  evil; 
No  hellifti  Flame  fends  out  its  Flafhes 
Through  creviced  Roof  and  mattered  Safhes! — 
The  Witch-grafs  round  the  Hazel  spring, 
May  fharply  to  the  night  Air  sing, 
But  there  no  more  fhall  withered  Hags 
Refrefh  at  Eafe  their  Broomftick  Nags ; 
Or  tafte  thofe  hazel-fhadowed  Waters 
As  Beverage  meet  for  Satan's  Daughters ; 
No  more  their  mimick  Tones  be  heard  — 
The  Mew  of  Cat  — the  Chirp  of  Bird, 
Shrill  blending  with  the  hoarfer  Laughter 
Of  the  fell  Demon  following  after." 

We  fay  how  egregioufly  he  erred  in  fuppofing 
that  "New  England  Romance  had  fled!"  thirty- 
feven  Years  ago,  becaufe  he  muft  have  known 
that  haunted  Houfes  exifted  and  Ghofts  flitted 
about  as  they  lifted  in  the  very  Borders  of  the 
great  Metropolis  near  the  prefent  Time;  that 
within  a  Year,  many,  perhaps  feveral  thoufands, 
went  out  of  this  City  of  Bofton  to  fee  a  haunted 


xliv  Differ  tat  ion. 

Houfe  in  the  Vicinity.  Whether,  as  they  ap- 
proached the  Place,  the  Hairs  of  their  Heads  ftood 
erect,  their  Teeth  chattered,  and  their  Knees 
fmote  together,  we  cannot  fay,  but  fome  of  them 
returned  with  myflerious  Countenances,  and  it 
was  many  Days  before  they  were  willing  to  give 
up  the  Idea  that  they  did  not  come  very  near 
feeing  a  Nonentity.  About  the  fame  Time,  Ghofts 
were  having  a  brave  Time  at  Fort  Warren  down 
in  the  Harbour,  according  to  Reports  current  in 
the  City.  Many  Perfons,  it  is  faid,  went  down 
towards  the  Ifland  on  which  the  Fort  is  fituated, 
but  probably  had  not  the  Courage  to  land,  as  they 
made  no  Report  afterwards. 

The  Reader  mould  now  be  informed  that  the 
poetical  Extract  foregoing  is  from  a  Poem  com- 
memorative of  as  great  and  notorious  a  Witch  as 
any  that  can  be  found  defcribed  in  the  Annals  of 
Witchcraft  ;  and  that  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Bard  of  Lynn  for  a  graphic  Outline  of  her  real 
Hiftory.  But  the  Reader  mould  be  reminded 
that  the  amiable  and  excellent  Author  of  that 
Work  was  himfelf  a  Poet,  and  that  it  is  poffible 
that  his  Account  may  have  a  Tinge  of  Poetry, 
or  be  a  little  bordering  on  Romance.  With  this 
Premonition  it  mail  follow  in  his  own  Words : 


Differ  tat  ion.  xlv 

"The  celebrated  Mary  Pitcher,  a  profeffed 
Fortune-teller,  died  April  9th,  181 3,  aged  75. 
Her  Grandfather,  John  Dimond,  lived  at  Mar- 
blehead,  and  for  many  Years  exercifed  the  fame 
Pretentions.  Her  Father,  Capt.  John  Dimond, 
was  Matter  of  a  Veflel  from  that  Place,  and  was 
living  in  1770.  Mary  Dimond  was  born  in  the 
Year  1738.  She  was  connected  with  fome  of  the 
beft  Families  in  Effex  County,  and  with  the 
Exception  of  her  extraordinary  Pretenfions,  there 
was  Nothing  difreputable  in  her  Life  or  Charac- 
ter. She  was  of  the  medium  Height  and  Size 
for  a  Woman,  with  a  good  Form  and  agreeable 
Manners.  Her  Head,  phrenologically  confid- 
ered,  was  fomewhat  capacious;  her  Forehead 
broad  and  full,  her  Hair  dark  Brown,  her  Nofe 
inclining  to  long,  and  her  Face  pale  and  thin. 
There  was  nothing  grofs  or  fenfual  in  her  Appear- 
ance—  her  Countenance  was  rather  Intellectual; 
and  me  had  that  Contour  of  Face  and  Expreffion 
which,  without  being  pofitively  beautiful  is,  never- 
thelefs,  decidedly  interefting  —  a  thoughtful,  pen- 
five,  and  fometimes  downcaft  Look,  almoft 
approaching  to  Melancholy  —  an  Eye,  when  it 
looked  at  you,  of  calm  and  keen  Penetration  — 
and    an   Expreflion  of   intelligent  Difcernment, 


xlvi  Dijfertation. 

half  mingled  with  a  Glance  of  Shrewdnefs.  She 
took  a  poor  Man  for  a  Hufband,  and  then  adopted 
what  (he  Doubtlefs  thought  the  harmlefs  Employ- 
ment of  Fortune-telling,  in  Order  to  fupport  her 
Children.  In  this  fhe  was  probably  more  fucceff- 
ful  than  me  herfelf  had  anticipated;  and  fhe 
became  celebrated,  not  only  throughout  America, 
but  throughout  the  World,  for  her  Skill.  There 
was  no  Port  on  either  Continent,  where  floated  the 
Flag  of  an  American  Ship,  that  had  not  heard  of 
the  Fame  of  Moll  Pitcher.  To  her  came  the 
Rich  and  the  Poor  —  the  Wife  and  the  Ignor- 
ant—  the  Accomplifhed  and  the  Vulgar  —  the 
Timid  and  the  Brave.  The  ignorant  Sailor,  who 
believed  in  the  Omens  and  Dreams  of  Superftition, 
and  the  intelligent  Merchant,  whofe  Ships  were 
freighted  for  diftant  Lands,  alike  fought  her 
Dwelling;  and  many  a  VefTel  has  been  deferted 
by  its  Crew,  and  waited  idly  at  the  Wharves, 
for  Weeks,  in  Confequence  of  her  unlucky  Pre- 
dictions. Many  Perfons  came  from  Places  far 
remote,  to  confult  her  on  Affairs  of  Love  or  Loss 
of  Property ;  or  to  obtain  her  Surmifes  refpecting 
the  Viciffitudes  of  their  future  Fortune.  Every 
Youth,  who  was  not  affured  of  the  reciprocal  Af- 
fection of  his  fair  one,  and  every  Maid  who  was 


Dijfertation.  xlvii 

defirous  of  anticipating  the  Hour  of  her  higheft 
Felicity,  repaired  at  Evening  to  her  humble 
Dwelling,  which  flood  on  what  was  then  a  lonely 
Road,  near  the  Foot  of  High  Rock,  with  the 
fingle  Dwelling  of  Dr.  Henry  Burchard  nearly 
oppofite;  over  whofe  Gateway  were  the  two 
Bones  of  a  great  Whale,  difpofed  in  the  Form  of 
a  Gothic  Arch.  There  for  more  than  fifty  Years, 
in  her  unpretending  Manfion,  did  me  anfwer  the 
Inquiries  of  the  fimple  Ruftic  from  the  Wilds  of 
New  Hampfhire,  and  the  wealthy  Noble  from 
Europe;  and,  doubtlefs  her  Predictions  have  had 
an  Influence  in  fhaping  the  Fortunes  of  Thou- 
fands." 

This  is  a  Sketch  drawn  from  Life.  Mr.  Lewis 
remembered  Mary  Pitcher  well,  for  he  lived 
near  her,  and  was  eighteen  Years  of  Age  when 
fhe  died.  "  Her  Hufband  was  a  Shoemaker 
named  Robert  Pitcher,  to  whom  fhe  was  married 
October  2d,  1760,  of  Courfe  at  the  Age  of  twenty- 
two.  She  had  one  Son,  John,  and  three  Daugh- 
ters, Rebecca,  Ruth,  and  Lydia,  who  married 
refpedlably,  and  fome  of  her  Defcendants  are 
among  the  prettieft  young  Ladies  of  Lynn."1 

1  Mr.  Newhall  in  his  valuable  graph  of  Mary  Pitcher,  and  an 
Additions  to  the  Hiftory  of  Lynn  Engraving  of  the  Houfe  in  which 
has  given  a  Fac  Simile  of  the  Auto-     fhe  lived. 


xlviii  Differ  tat  ion. 

Another,  one  of  New  England's  elegant  Writers, 
who  alfo  knew  the  celebrated  Mary  Pitcher,  has 
left  the  following  Note  upon  her:  "She  was 
fo  well  known  to  moft  Perfons,  that  their  Re- 
collections will  be  better  than  any  Defcription. 
She  had  thin  Lips,  the  arched  Eyebrows,  the 
chappy  Finger,  and  that  Shrewdnefs  which  have 
fo  often  been  the  Characteriftics  of  thofe  who  have 
deceived  the  World  by  pretending  to  tell  For- 
tunes, or  to  find  loft  Goods.  It  can  do  no  Harm 
to  amufe  ourfelves  by  the  Hiftory  of  any  Delufion 
when  it  has  parTed.  The  Age  of  Reafon  has  come, 
and  Superftition  is  now  making  from  her  Raven 
Wings  the  laft  Dewdrops  fwept  from  the  Fens 
of  Ignorance,  and  the  Light  of  Knowledge  has 
broken  the  Enchanter's  Wand  and  the  Sorcerer's 
Cup."1 

Had  this  excellent  Writer  lived  thirty  Years 
later  he  would  have  found  that  Something  of  the 
Wand  Kind  has  been  more  active  than  ever,  and 
that  the  Wand  of  the  Spirit-Rapper  is  far  in 
advance  of  that  of  the  Conjuror  of  his  Time. 
They  hold  Communion  with  the  Dead  and  lead 
captive  the  ftrong  minded  living  of  our  Day. 
Alas  for  the  Age  of  Reafon !     It  is  in  Profpedt 

1  Samuel  L.  Knapp  in  1825. 


Differ  tat  ion.  xlix 

like  that  glorious  funny  Point  called  the  Weft, 
which  when  reached  is  no  longer  there,  but  be- 
comes the  oppofite — :the  Eaft. 

Notwithftanding  the  great  Fame  of  Moll 
Pitcher,  there  was  another  Female  quite  as  noto- 
rious and  contemporary  with  her,  reliding  in 
Newburyport,  and  therefore  better  known  per- 
haps to  Mr.  Knapp  than  the  Former.  This 
Woman  would  probably  have  rivalled  Mary  in 
Fame,  had  fhe  refided  as  near  Bofton.  Of  that, 
however,  the  Reader  can  judge,  after  the  Perufal 
of  what  Mr.  Knapp  has  left  us.  He  fays:  "The 
Writer  remembers,  in  his  fhort  Life,  three  Per- 
fons,  not  only  reputed,  as  many  more  have  been, 
but  abfolutely  believed  by  a  great  Portion  of  the 
Credulous,  to  have  pra&ifed  the  Arts  of  Witch- 
craft. The  firft  lived  in  Newburyport.  She 
was  a  Woman  of  extraordinary  Appearance  — 
fhe  was  fhort,  but  ftout;  had  a  ftrongly  marked 
Face,  large  greenifh  Eyes,  prominent  Nofe,  and 
a  large  Mouth,  with  a  perfed:  Set  of  double  Teeth 
all  around.  Her  Voice  was  ftentorian.  She 
came  to  Newburyport  in  1759  or  60,  and  was 
probably  the  Appendage  of  a  Scotch  Officer  in 
Amherft's  Army.  Her  Acquirements  and  her 
Addrefs  were  fuch  that  fhe  at  once  obtained  a 
G 


1  Differ  tat  ion. 

School,  and  received  the  honourable  Appellation 
of  Dame  Hooper,  and  afterwards  that  of  Madam 
Hooper.  Her  Temper  was  exceffively  irrafcible, 
and  being  rather  reftive  under  fuch  Confinement, 
(he  gave  up  her  School,  after  fhe  had  formed  a 
thorough  Acquaintance  with  the  People.  Her 
GuefTes  were  often  fo  fhrewd  that  fome  began  to 
flare,  and  at  length,  as  the  Wonders  of  her  Skill 
increafed,  pronounced  her  a  Witch.  This  Charac- 
ter being  once  fixed,  fhe  availed  herfelf  of  the 
Belief,  to  live  upon  the  Credulity  of  the  Publick. 
The  beft  informed  felt  no  Defire  to  quarrel  with 
her,  and  others  often  propitiated  her  good  Will 
with  Prefents.  She  had  Accefs  to  every  Houfe,  and 
made  frequent  Vifits  to  numerous  Families.  The 
Children  bowed  to  her  Divinity  as  fhe* entered 
the  Houfe  of  their  Parents,  and  fhe  being  well 
informed,  aftonifhed  them  with  fage  Remarks. 
She  was  the  moft  acute  Phyfiognomift  I  ever  faw, 
and  read  the  Character  even  of  a  Child  at  a 
Glance.  Her  Speeches  were  fhort,  ftriking,  and, 
like  thofe  of  the  Sybil,  generally  equivocal.  An 
hundred  of  them  are  frefh  in  my  Memory  at  this 
Moment,  and  are  quite  equal  to  thofe  left  us  from 
the  ancient  Oracles.  She  told  Fortunes,  found 
loft  Goods,  and  was  confulted  on  other  Subjects 


Dijfertation.  li 

with  Gravity,  by  the  fober  part  of  the  Commu- 
nity. In  her  latter  Days  fhe  degenerated ,  from 
her  high  Standing,  and  became  not  only  a  For- 
tune-Teller, but  fomething  lower,  in  the  Eftima- 
tion  of  many;  yet,  fuch  was  the  Fear  of  this 
Woman,  that  the  grave  Fathers  of  the  Town, 
quick  fcented,  and  unequalled  in  their  Exertions 
to  exterminate  Vice,  did  not  dare  interfere  with 
her.  The  Orgies  of  Bacchus  and  Venus  were 
celebrated  in  her  Den,  without  the  flighteft  Fear 
of  Detection  or  Punifhment.  It  is  true  her 
Habitation  was  on  the  fartheft  Verge  of  the 
Town,  and  where  her  Bacchantes  could  not  dif- 
turb  many.  Boys  ran  paft  her  Houfe,  if  obliged 
to  go  that  Way  in  the  Evening,  without  looking 
about  them.  Old  Age  at  length  came  upon  her, 
and  her  fhrewd  Guefles  no  longer  pafled  for  Fore- 
knowledge. Many  who  had  often  confulted  her, 
and  believed  in  her  Power,  now  thought  her 
League  with  the  Devil  had  run  out  —  that  fhe 
was  a  miferable  Wretch,  polluted  by  infernal  Af- 
fociates,  without  retaining  a  Particle  of  their  ac- 
curfed  Knowledge.  None  but  Hags  came  near 
her,  and  fhe  expired  on  a  Bed  of  filthy  Straw. 
The  Wardrobe  fhe  pofTerTed  on  her  Arrival,  was 
fo  abundant  as  to  have  lafled  during  her  Life." 


Hi  Differ  tat  ion. 

Our  Author  extracts  Edmund  Spenfer's  De- 
fcription  of  the  Abode  of  a  Witch,1  in  fpeaking 
of  another  Woman,  who  in  her  Time  paffed  cur- 
rent for  a  Witch.  This  was  one  "Mother  Dan- 
forth."  But  where  the  "gloomy,  hollow  Glen" 
was  containing  her  Cottage  he  does  not  inform 
us;  but  fays,  "This  harmlefs  old  Woman  was 
often  charged  with  afflicting  Men,  Women  and 
Children,  and  playing  off  her  Pranks  upon 
Horfes,  Cattle,  Sheep,  and  above  all  on  Cats. 
The  beft  authenticated  Stories  were  told  of  her 
being  feen  in  the  Air  on  a  Broomftick,  and  hold- 
ing a  Sabbath,  with  others  of  her  Race,  in  a  defo- 
late  Ifland.  Mother  Danforth  was  the  Leader  of 
the  frightful  Band.  None  of  thofe  Experiments 
which  often  fent  lefs  careful  Witches  to  their 
long  Account,  ever  reached  her  —  fhe  was  Proof 
againft  every  witch-killing  Procefs ;  fhe  had  been 
mot  at  in  the  Form  of  a  Cat,  with  filver  Bullets, 
but  all  to  no  Effect." 

But  the  Author  of  this  Extract  does  not  tell 
what  became  of  Mother  Danforth.  She  no 
doubt  died  a  natural  Death,  as  thoufands  of  other 
aged  Females  have  in  various  Parts  of  the  Coun- 

1  See  The  Witchcaft  Delufion  in  N.  Eng.,  I,  xlix. 


Differ  tat  ion.  liii 

try.  The  Writer  is  not  as  old  as  he  from  whom 
the  above  Extracts  are  made,  but  it  was  his  For- 
tune in  Youth  to  be  acquainted  in  many  Towns, 
in  nearly  all  of  which  there  was  a  reputed  Witch. 
In  one  in  particular,  a  Daughter-in-law  fuftained 
the  Belief  of  her  Neighbours  that  her  Mother-in- 
law  was  a  Witch,  that  me  was  known  to  have  been 
abfent  at  Nights  attending  Witch-Meetings;  that 
me  had  been  rid  by  her  and  exhibited  her  worn 
Hands,  though  when  rid  (he  was  turned  into  a 
Horfe.  At  the  fame  Time  it  was  well  known 
that  the  old  Mother-in-law  had  been  bed-rid 
many  Years,  and  had  not  for  a  long  Time  left  her 
Bed  without  Affiftance! 


-c4UFORJ*i£ 


ANNALS   OF 


Wlttcfjtraft  in  Jieto  Cn^lan** 


T   AWS    againft   Witch- 
*~  craft   naturally    grew 
out  of  a  Demand  by  the 
People  for  a  Remedy  for 
that  particular  Evil.    That 
it  was  a  fancied  or  imagin- 
ary Evil   made  no  Diffe- 
rence. Thefe  Laws  gradu- 
ally  dropped   out    of  the 
Statute  Books,  as  the  Peo- 
ple   became    enlightened ; 
and  fo  it  was  with  many 
other    Laws,    enacted    in 
5^*  about    as   much   Darknefs   as  were 
thofe    againft    Witchcraft.     But    with 
J&"      thefe  —  fome    of  which    difgrace    the 
Statute    Books  of  the  prefent  Day — we 
now  have  Nothing  to  do. 


56  Annals  of  Witchcraft    1636-46 

1636. 

The  People  of  Plymouth  had  been  disturbed 
by  Witches  doubtlefs  before  the  Year  1636,  or 
they  would  not  have,  in  that  Year,  included  in 
their  Summary  of  Offences  "lyable  to  Death," 
one  in  thefe  words: — "Solemn  Compaction  or 
converfing  with  the  Divell  by  way  of  Witchcraft, 
Conjuration  or  the  like."  Ten  Years  later  it  was 
reenacted,  yet  no  Intimation  is  found  in  the  Re- 
cords that  any  new  Caufe  had  tranfpired. 

1642. 

There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  par- 
ticular Caufe  for  including  Witchcraft  among  the 
capital  Offences  at  this  Period  in  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut ;  but  as  they  drew  their  Capital  Code 
from  the  Bible,  it  was  neceffarily  included,  and 
in  thefe  words:  —  "Yf  any  Man  or  Woman  be  a 
Witch,  that  is,  hath  or  confulteth  with  a  Familiar 
Spirit,  they  mail  be  put  to  death."  The  Colony 
of  MafTachufetts  had  the  previous  Year  adopted 
the  Body  of  Liberties,  which  contains  the  fame 
Claufe  concerning  Witches  and  Witchcraft. 

1646. 

The  Law  againft  Witchcraft,  enacted  in  1642, 
is  reenacted,  and  we  do  not  find  any  Alteration  or 
Reenactment  until  October,  1692.  Up  to  this 
Time  Proceedings  in  Cafes  of  Witchcraft  were 
"according  to  the  Directions  given  in  the  Laws 


1647  *n  New  England.  57 

of  God  and  the  wholefome  Statutes  of  the  Englifh 
Nation. "  But  upon  the  Opening  of  the  Tra- 
gedy in  Salem  Village,  in  the  Beginning  of  1692, 
the  old  Enactments  were  thought  infufficient,  and 
a  new  and  more  verbofe  one  was  drawn  up  and 
paffed l  by  the  General  Court,  the  Governour  and 
Council  having  in  the  mean  Time  requefted  the 
Opinion  of  feveral  of  the  principal  Minifters  upon 
the  State  of  Things  as  they  then  flood,  according 
to  the  Practice  under  the  old  Charter.  Their 
Opinion  was  given  in  Writing,  and  confifted  of 
eight  Articles,  which  may  be  read  in  the  Hijiory 
of  Majfachufetts? 

A  Perfon  of  Windfor  was  put  to  Death  on  the 
Charge  of  Witchcraft  at  Hartford.  No  Circum- 
ftances  have  been  found,  nor  the  Name  of  the 
SurTerer.3 

1647. 

What  had  influenced  the  People  of  Rhode 
Ifland  to  caufe  the  General  Court  of  that  Colony 
to  make  the  following  Enactment,  does  not  ap- 
pear, In  the  Acts  of  May  of  the  Year  1647,  we 
find  "Witchcraft  is  forbidden  by  this  prefent  Af- 
fembly  to  be  ufed  in  this  Colonie ;  and  the  Penal- 
tie  impofed  by  the  Authoritie  that  we  are  fubjecl: 

1  See  Dane's  Charters  and  Laws,     ton  Mather.     But  Mather,  in  his 
735.       ~  War  with  Calef,  fays,  "it  was  my 

poor    Hand    which  drew  up   that 

2  Hutchinfon,   II,   50,    51,  who     Advice." — Some  Few  Remarks,  39. 
does    not    appear   to    have  known 

that  it  was  compofed  by  Dr.  Cot-         *  Winthrop,  Journal,  TI,  307. 

H 


58  Annals  of  Witchcraft  164.8 

to,  is  Felonie  of  Death. "  It  is  probable  that 
Somebody  had  been  "ufing"  it,  or  their  Inten- 
tions to  do  fo  were  ftrongly  fufpedted. 

1648. 

The  firft  Execution  for  Witchcraft  in  the  Co- 
lony of  MafTachufetts  Bay,  was  at  Bofton  on  the 
15th  of  June,  1648.  Accufations  were  probably 
common  long  before  this,  but  now  came  a  tan- 
gible Cafe,  and  it  was  carried  through  with  as 
much  Satisfaction  to  the  Authorities,  apparently, 
as  ever  the  Indians  burnt  a  Prifoner  at  the  Stake. 

The  Victim  was  a  Female  named  Margaret 
Jones,  the  Wife  of  Thomas  Jones  of  Charlef- 
town,  who  perifhed  on  the  Gallows,  as  much  for 
her  good  Offices,  as  for  the  evil  Influences  im- 
puted to  her.  She  had  been,  like  many  other 
Mothers  among  the  early  Settlers,  a  Phyfician  ; 
but  being  once  fufpected  of  Witchcraft,  "was 
found  to  have  fuch  a  malignant  Touch,  as  many 
Perfons  were  taken  with  Deafnefs,  or  Vomiting, 
or  other  violent  Pains  or  Sicknefs."  Her  Medi- 
cines, though  harmlefs  in  themfelves,  "yet  had 
extraordinary  violent  Effects ;  "  that  fuch  as  re- 
fufed  her  Medicines,  "fhe  would  tell  that  they 
would  never  be  healed,  and  accordingly  their 
Difeafes  and  Hurts  continued,  with  Relapfe 
againft  the  ordinary  Courfe,  and  beyond  the  Ap- 
prehenfion  of  all  Phyficians  and  Surgeons."  And, 
as  fhe  lay  in  Prifon,  "a  little  Child  was  feen  to 
run  from  her  into  another  Room,  and  being  fol- 


1648  in  New  Rn gland.  59 

lowed  by  an  Officer,  it  was  vanished."  There 
was  other  Teftimony  againft  her  more  ridiculous 
than  this,  but  not  neceffary  to  be  recited.  To 
make  her  Cafe  as  bad  as  poffible,  the  Recorder  of* 
it  fays  "her  Behaviour  at  her  Trial  was  intempe- 
rate, lying  notorioufly,  and  railing  upon  the  Jury 
and  WitnerTes,"  and  that  "in  like  Diftemper  fhe 
died."  It  is  not  unlikely  that  this  poor  forfaken 
Woman  was  diffracted  with  Indignation  at  the 
Utterances  of  the  falfe  WitnerTes,  when  fhe  faw 
her  Life  was  fworn  away  by  them.  The  de- 
luded Court  denounced  her  frantick  Denial  of  the 
Charges  as  "lying  notorioufly."  And  in  the 
probably  honeft  Belief  in  Witchcraft,  the  same 
Recorder ■  fays,  in  the  moft  complacent  Credulity, 
that  "the  fame  Day  and  Hour  fhe  was  executed, 
there  was  a  very  great  Tempeft  at  Connecticut, 
which  blew  down  many  Trees,  &c."  Another 
equally  credulous  Gentleman,  writing  a  Letter  to 
a  Friend,  dated  at  Bofton  on  the  13th  of  the 
fame  Month,  fays :  "  The  Witche  is  condemned, 
and  to  be  hanged  Tomorrow,  being  Lecture 
Day." 

Whether  there  were  any  other  fufpected  Per- 
fons  at  the  time  Margaret  Jones  was  profecuted, 
we  have  no  Means  of  afcertaining,  yet  it  is  more 
than  probable  that  a  fuppofed  Spirit  of  Darknefs 
had  been  whifpering  in  the  Ears  of  the  Men  in 
Authority  in  Bofton;  for  about  a  Month  before 
the  Execution  of  Margaret,  they  parTed  this  Order  : 

1  John  Winthrop. 


60  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1648 

"  The  Courte  defire  the  Courfe  which  hath  been 
taken  in  England  for  Difcovery  of  Witches,  by 
watching  them  a  certain  Time.  It  is  ordered, 
that  the  beft  and  fureft  Way  may  forthwith  be 
put  in  Practice ;  to  begin  this  Night,  if  it  may 
be,  being  the  18th  of  the  third  Month,  and  that 
the  Hulband  may  be  confined  to  a  private  Roome, 
and  be  alfo  then  watched." 

That  the  Court  was  ftirred  up  to  ferret  out 
Witches,  by  the  late  Succefles  in  that  Bufinefs  in 
England, —  feveral  Perfons  having  been  tried,  con- 
demned and  executed  in  Feverfham  about  two 
Years  before  —  is  not  improbable.  By  "the 
Courfe  which  hath  been  taken  in  England  for  the 
Difcovery  of  Witches,"  the  Court  had  Reference 
to  the  Employment  of  Witch-Finders,  one 
Matthew  Hopkins  having  had  great  Succefs.  By 
his  infernal  Pretenfions  U  fome  fcores "  of  inno- 
cent bewildered  People  met  violent  Deaths  at  the 
Hands  of  the  Executioner,  all  along  from  1634 
to  1646.  But  to  return  to  the  Cafe  of  Margaret 
Jones.  She  having  gone  down  to  an  ignominious 
Grave,  leaving  her  Hufband  to  fuffer  the  Taunts 
and  Jeers  of  the  ignorant  Multitude,  efcaped 
further  Profecution.  Thefe  were  fo  infufferable 
that  his  Means  of  Living  were  cut  off,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  try  to  feek  another  Afylum.  A 
Ship  was  lying  in  the  Harbor  bound  for  Barba- 
does.  In  this  he  took  Paffage.  But  he  was  not 
thus  to  efcape  Perfecution.  On  this  "Ship  of 
300  Tons"  were  eighty  Horfes.  Thefe  caufed 
the  VerTel  to  roll  confiderably,  perhaps  heavily, 


1648  in  New  England.  61 

which  to  Perfons  of  any  Sea  Experience  would 
have  been  no  Miracle.  But  Mr.  Jones  was  a 
Witch,  a  Warrant  was  fued  out  for  his  Apprehen- 
fion,  and  he  was  hurried  thence  to  Prifon,1  and 
there  left  by  the  Recorder  of  the  Account,  who 
has  left  his  Readers  in  Ignorance  of  what  became 
of  him.  Whether  he  were  the  Thomas  Joanes 
of  Elzing,  who  in  1637  took  ParTage  at  Yarmouth 
for  New  England,  cannot  be  pofitively  ftated, 
although  he  is  probably  the  fame  Perfon.  If  fo, 
his  Age  at  that  Time  was  25  Years,  and  he  mar- 
ried fubfequently.2 

To  whom  is  referred  in  the  following  PafTage, 
written  about  1693,  is  not  clear:  "We  have 
been  advifed  by  fome  credible  Chriftians  yet 
alive,  that  a  Malefactor,  accufed  of  Witchcraft, 
as  well  as  Murder,  and  executed  in  this  Place 
more  than  forty  Years  ago,  did  then  give  Notice 
of  an  horrible  PLOT  againft  the  Country  by 
WITCHCRAFT,  and  a  Foundation  of  WITCH- 
CRAFT then  laid,  which,  if  it  were  not  feafon- 
ably  difcovered,  would  probably  blow  up  and  pull 
down  all  the  Churches  in  the  Country.  And 
we  have  with  Horror  feen  the  Difcovery  of  fuch 
a  Witchcraft.  An  Army  of  Devils  is  horribly 
broke  in  upon  the  Place,  which  is  the  Centre,  and 
after  a  Sort,  the  Firft-born  of  our  Engliih  Settle- 
ments."3 


1  See  Hift.  and  Antiq's  B  oft  on,     49. 
and  Authorities,  308-9. 

3  Wonders  of  the  Invifible  World. 

2  See  Founders  of  New  England, 


62  Annals  of  Witchcraft  164.8 

Mary  Johnfon  was  executed  at  Hartford  for 
Witchcraft.  Neither  her  Trial  nor  Execution 
appear  in  the  publifhed  Records  of  the  General 
Court  of  Connecticut.  She  was  the  fame  Perfon, 
it  is  fuppofed,  who  at  the  Auguft  Term,  1646, 
the  General  Court  ordered,  "for  Theuery,  is  to 
be  prefently  whipped,  and  to  be  brought  forth  a 
Month  hence  at  Wethersfield,  and  there  whipped/' 

About  two  Years  later,  namely,  December  7th, 
1648,  is  found  the  following  brief  Entry  refpecl:- 
ing  Mary  Jonjbn,  doubtlefs  the  fame  who  had 
been  ordered  to  be  whipped,  as  juft  mentioned : 
"The  Jury  finds  the  Bill  of  Incitement  againft 
Mary  Jonfon,  that,  by  her  owne  Confeflion,  fhee 
is  guilty  of  Familiarity  with  the  Deuill." 

Concerning  this  Cafe,  as  in  many  others,  we 
have  a  good  deal  in  Amount,  and  yet  but  few 
Facts;  are  told  that  "her  Confeflion  was  attended 
with  fuch  convictive  Circumftances,  that  it  could 
not  be  flighted."  But  unfortunately  none  of  the 
conviBive  Circumftances  are  given,  that  the  Read- 
ers might  have  the  Satisfaction  of  exercifing  their 
own  Judgement,  as  to  their  conviBivenefs .  We 
muft  therefore  take  the  only  Account  we  have  as 
we  find  it,  feeling  that  the  original  Narrator  im- 
plicitly believed  every  Word  of  it.  He  fays, 
"very  many  material  Paflages  relating  to  this 
Matter  are  now  loft;  but  fo  much  as  is  well 
known,  and  can  ftill  be  proved,  (hall  be  inferted. 

"She  faid  her  firft  Familiarity  with  the  Devil 
came  through  Difcontent,  and  wiflbing  the  Devil 
to  take  this  and  that,  and  the   Devil  to  do  that 


1648  in  New  England.  63 

and  t'other  Thing.  Whereupon  a  Devil  appeared 
unto  her,  tendring  her  what  Services  might  beft 
content  her.  A  Devil  accordingly  did  for  her 
many  Services.  Her  Mafter  blamed  her  for  not 
carrying  out  the  Afhes,  and  a  Devil  afterwards 
would  clear  the  Hearth  of  Afhes  for  her.  Her 
Mafter  fending  her  to  drive  out  the  Hogs,  that 
fometimes  broke  into  their  Field,  a  Devil  would 
fcowre  the  Hogs  away,  and  make  her  laugh  to 
fee  how  he  feared  them.  She  confeffed  that  fhe 
had  murdered  a  Child,  and  committed  Unclean- 
nes  both  with  Men  and  with  Devils.  In  the 
Time  of  her  Imprifonment,  the  famous  Mr. 
Samuel]  Stone  was  at  great  Pains  to  promote 
!ier  Converiion  from  the  Devil  to  God."  The 
fame  Author  tells  us  fhe  went  out  of  the  World 
with  comfortable  Hopes,  having  been  by  the 
"beft  Obfervers  judged  very  Penitent  before  her 
Execution  and  at  it*" 

Thus  we  are  left  in  utter  Ignorance  as  to  what 
was  produced  againft  Mary  Johnfon  at  her  Trial, 
if  fhe  had  any.  But  at  the  Term  of  Court  be- 
fore mentioned,  we  find  a  Lift  of  the  Jury,  com- 
pofed  of  the  following  Names:  "Mr.  Phelps, 
John  Tailecoate,  Will.  Wadfworth,  Andr.  Bacon, 
Sam.  Smith,  Nath  Dickerfon,  Thomas  Coleman, 
John  Demyn,  Mr.  Clarke,  Mr.  Allyn,  Will. 
Gibbens,  John  More."  Edward  Hopkins,  Efq., 
was  Governour.  "Mr.  Wells,  Mr.  Woollcott, 
Mr.  Webfter,  and  Mr.  Cullick,"  were  Magis- 
trates." 


64  Annals  of  Witchcraft      1 650-1 

1650. 

It  is  incidentally  mentioned  by  Hutchinfon, 
that  no  Perfon  was  convicted  for  Witchcraft  in 
New  England,  before  the  Year  1650,  "when,  a 
poor  Wretch,  Mary  Oliver,  probably  weary  of 
her  Life  from  the  general  Reputation  of  being  a 
Witch,  after  long  Examination,  was  brought  to 
Confeffion  of  her  Guilt,  but  I  do  not  find  that 
me  was  executed. "  It  would  feem  from  this 
Paffage  of  the  Hiftorian,  that  he  did  not  confider 
Mary  Johnfon  to  have  been  convicted,  or  proba- 
bly he  had  no  Knowledge  of  her  Cafe. 

1651. 

We  come  now  to  a  Cafe  quite  as  deplorable  as 
that  of  the  Year  1648,  already  confidered.  It 
occurred  in  the  Town  of  Springfield,  on  the  Con- 
necticut River,  and  has  been  feveral  Times  no- 
ticed by  local  and  other  Writers,  none  of  whom, 
however,  have  given  a  fatisfactory  Account  of  it, 
becaufe  the  Materials  were  unknown  to  them. 
It  is  referred  to  by  Capt.  Edward  Johnfon,  in  his 
loofe  way,  in  his  Wonder  Working  Providence, 
&c,  which  brings  down  his  Hijiory  of  New 
England  to  165 1,  and  was  printed  in  1654.  In 
fpeaking  of  the  Settlement  of  Springfield  he  fays  : 
"There  hath  of  late  been  more  than  one  or  two 
in  this  Town,  greatly  fufpected  of  Witchcraft,  yet 
have  they  ufed  much  Diligence,  both  for  the 
finding  them  out,  and  for  the  Lord's  aflifting  them 
againft  their  Witchery ;  yet  have  they,  as  is  fup- 


1650  in  New  England.  65 

pofed,  bewitched  not  a  few  Perfons,  among  whom 
two  of  the  Reverend  Elder's  Children."  The 
Reverend  Elder  was  Mr.  George  Moxon,  the  firft 
Minifter  of  the  Place.1  The  Author  juft  men- 
tioned is  the  only  one  remembered  among  the 
early  New  England  Writers  who  notices  the 
Witchcraft  Troubles  at  Springfield.  Some  of 
our  own  Times  relate  them,  or  what  they  happen 
to  know  of  them,  with  the  fame  Feeling,  appa- 
rently, as  they  would  relate  a  nurfery  Tale  to 
their  Children ;  feeming  not  to  be  fenfible  of  the 
Horrors  and  Privations  fufFered  by  the  Fathers 
and  Mothers  of  the  Land,  in  that  dark  Period  of 
its  Hiftory. 

It  is  quite  Evident  from  Capt.  Johnfon's  Ac- 
count, that  Witchcraft  in  Springfield  was  about 
coeval  with  the  firft  Settlement  of  the  Place, 
which  was  in  1636.  The  Company  which  made 
the  Settlement  there  was  led  by  Mr.  William 
Pynchon,  a  Gentleman  of  Learning  and  Enter- 
prife,  and  afterwards  a  Magiftrate. 

According  to  Captain  Johnfon,  Witches  were 
difturbing  the  Peace  of  the  People  of  Springfield 
ten  Years  before  legal  Steps  were  taken  to  put  a 
Stop  to  them.  On  whom  or  how  many  Sus- 
picions were  fixed  before  Mr.  Pynchon  felt  com- 

1  It  is  reported  that  Mary  Par-  divers  devilifh  Practices  by  Witch- 

fon   was   tried,  about   the   End  of  craft,  to  the  Hurt  of  Martha  and 

February  (1661)  for,  as  the  Indict-  Rebeca  Moxon,  againft  the  Word 

ment  runs,   that  being  feduced  by  of  God,   &c.       She   pleaded    not 

the  Devil,  at  Springfield,  fhe  con-  Guilty,  and  the  Court  finally  dif- 

fulted  with  a  familiar  Spirit,  making  charged  her. —  See  Judd's   Hiftory 

a  Covenant  with  him,  and  had  ufed  Hadley,  234. 

1 


66  Annals  of  Witchcraft      1 650-1 

pelled  to  fet  up  his  Inquifition,  we  fhall  probably 
never  know.  Perhaps  they  were  at  firft  among 
a  Clafs  of  Denizens  of  too  high  focial  Standing 
to  admit  an  Interference.  But  in  the  latter  Part 
of  the  Year  1650,  Sufpicions  fell  on  a  Man 
named  Hugh  Parfons.  This  Man  appears  to 
have  been  one  of  the  firft  Settlers  of  the  Town, 
probably  went  there  in  Mr.  Pynchon's  Company. 
He  was  an  honeft,  fenfible  laboring  Man,  a  Saw- 
yer by  Occupation,  and  it  may  be  well  to  remark 
that,  before  Mills  were  built,  the  Bufinefs  of  a 
Sawyer  was  not  inconfiderable,  in  the  then  Wild- 
ernefs  of  New  England.  After  a  few  Years' 
Refidence  at  Springfield,  Mr.  Parfons  married  a 
young  Woman  named  Mary  Lewis.  The  Mar- 
riage took  place  October  27th,  1645.  Their  firft 
Child,  at  leaft  the  firft  we  find  recorded,  was  born 
on  the  4th  of  October,  1649.  This  Child  was 
named  Samuel,  and  it  died  at  the  Age  of  one 
Year.  The  following  Year,  on  the  26th  of  Oc- 
tober, they  had  another,  a  Son,  which  they  named 
Jofhua.  It  was  foon  after  the  Birth  of  this  Child 
that  the  Charge  of  Witchcraft  was  made  againft 
the  Father.  The  Mother's  Sicknefs,  confequent, 
perhaps,  upon  the  Privations  and  Hardships  of  a 
Wildernefs,  deprived  her  of  Reafon,  and  the 
Courfe  purfued  after  fhe  was  thus  afflicted,  ren- 
dered her  permanently  infane.  This  Condition 
was  declared  to  be  produced  by  Witchcraft,  and 
the  Teftimony  of  this  fick  and  infane  Woman 
was  taken  as  legal  Evidence  againft  her  Hulband, 
and  afterwards  againft  herfelf.     Her  Illnefs  im- 


165 1  in  New  England.  67 

mediately  after  the  Birth  of  her  Child,  was,  as 
before  remarked,  doubtlefs  caufed  by  prematurely 
expofing  herfelf,  which  fo  affected  the  Health  of 
the  Child,  that  it  fell  into  a  Languifhment,  and 
being  deprived  of  the  Care  it  required,  its  Death 
followed  on  the  ift  of  March,  1651.  Where- 
upon the  Clamour  againft  the  Father  increafed, 
and  he  was  denounced  as  a  Witch  on  all  Sides. 

Mrs.  Parfons  was  fent  to  Bofton  and  here  im- 
prifoned,  about  the  ift  of  May.  At  length,  on 
the  7th  of  May,  1651,  her  Cafe  was  brought 
before  the  General  Court,  and  the  following 
Record  is  the  Refult  of  their  Deliberation: 
"Mary  Parfons  of  Springfield  having  two  Bills 
of  Indictment  framed  againft  her,  the  one  for 
having  Familiarity  with  the  Devill  as  a  Witch, 
to  which  fhe  pleaded  not  Guilty,  and  not  fufficient 
Euidence  appearing  to  proue  the  fame,  fhe  was 
aquited  of  Witchcraft.  The  fecond  Indictment 
was  for  wilfully  and  moft  wickedly  murdering 
her  owne  Child,  to  which  fhee  pleaded  guilty, 
confeft  the  Fact,  and  according  to  her  Deferts 
was  condemned  to  Dy." 

A  Jury  had  previoufly  convicted  Hugh,  the 
Hufband  of  Mary  Parfons,  of  the  Crime  of 
Witchcraft,  by  the  Practice  of  which  as  charged, 
he  had  caufed  his  Child's  Death ;  but  in  the  mean 
Time  the  poor,  diftrefTed  and  wretched  Wife  had 
confeffed  herfelf  a  Witch,  and  that  fhe  had  killed 
the  Child.  This  Confeffion  caufed  the  Court  to 
come  to  the  Decfion  juft  recorded;  and  on  the 
27th  of  the  fame  Month  they  came  to  the  fol- 


68  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1651 

lowing  Decifion  in  the  HufbancTs  Cafe:  "The 
Magistrates  not  confenting  to  the  Verdict  of  the 
Jury  in  Parfons's  Cafe,  the  Caufe  coming  legally 
to  the  General  Court  for  Iffue,  the  Court  on 
Perufal  of  the  Euidence  brought  in  againft  him 
for  Witchcraft,  doe  judge  that  he  is  not  legally 
Guilty  of  Witchcraft;  fo  not  to  Dy  by  our 
Law." 

Hence  in  the  Law-Logic  of  that  Time  one 
was  confidered  Guilty  till  another  for  the  fame 
Crime  was  found  fo ;  reminding  us  of  the  vicari- 
ous Punifhment  (though  not  exactly  a  Parallel 
Cafe)  fo  ludicroufly  paraded  by  Butler,  as  being 
in  Ufe  in  New  England,  in  its  early  Settlement. 

Thus,  after  a  long  and  tedious  Profecution  at 
Springfield,  he  was  fent  to  Bofton  to  be  finally 
difpofed  of;  and  here  a  Bill  of  Indictment  was 
"framed"  againft  him,  of  which  this  is  a  Copy: 
"The  Grand  Jurie  for  this  Comanwelth  prefent 
Hugh  Parfons  of  Springfield,  not  haueing  ye 
Feare  of  God  before  his  Eyes,  in  or  abought 
March  laft,  and  diuers  Times  before  and  fince, 
at  Springfield  aforefaid  (as  they  conceued)  had 
familier  and  wiced  Conuerfe  with  ye  Deuil,  and 
did  ufe  diuers  duelifh  Practifes  and  Witchcrafte 
to  ye  Hurte  of  diuers  Perfons,  as  by  feueral  Wit- 
nerles  and  Sercumftanfes  doth  apr.  and  doe  leaue 
him  to  ye  Corte  for  his  further  tryal  for  his  Life." 

The  Verdict  of  the  Trial  Jury  was  rendered  in 
Writing  and  is  in  thefe  Words: 

"The  Jurie  of  Life  and  Death  findes  againft 
Hugh    Parfons,    by    ye    Teftemony   of   fuch    as 


1 65 1  in  New  England.  69 

apearde  in  Corte,  foe  much  as  giues  them  Grounde 
not  to  cleare  him,  but  cofidered  with  ye  Tefti- 
monys  of  diuers  yf  are  at  Springfield,  whofe 
Teftimonys  were  onely  fent  in  Writeinge,  as  alfo 
ye  Confeffion  of  Mary  Parfons,  and  ye  Impeach- 
ment of  fome  of  ye  bewitched  Perfons  of  ye  faid 
Hew  Parfons,  which,  if  ye  General  Corce  make 
ye  Confeflion  of  Mary  Parfons  and  ye  impedi- 
ment of  ye  bewitched  Perfons  or  other  of  them, 
and  ye  Teftemonys  yc  are  in  Writeinge,  but  ap- 
peared not  in  Perfon  authentike  Teftimonys 
acordinge  to  Law,  then  ye  Jurie  findes  ye  faide 
Hugh  Parfons  Giltie  of  ye  fin  of  Wichcrafte. 
Edward  Hutchinson,1  Foreman" 
with  ye  Confent  of  ye  reft  of  ye  Jurie. 
It  is  Plain  that  the  Jury  intended  to  throw  the 
Refponfibility  on  the  General  Court,  which  was  a 
fafe  and  eafy  Way  to  difpofe  of  the  Cafe,  the  Mur- 
der of  the  Child  having  been  aflumed  by  its  poor 
demented  Mother.  It  is  Evident,  however,  that 
there  was  a  lingering  Belief  in  the  Minds  of  the 
Jury,  that  Hugh  had  been  praclifing  Witchcraft 
on  his  Neighbours  at  Springfield;  but  as  it  was 
chiefly  in  cutting  boiled  Puddings  longitudinally, 
filing  of  Saws  in  the  Night  Time,  and  fome  few 
other  equally  innocent  (though  invifible-handed) 
Amufements,  they  thought  it  Beft  to  muffle  over 
them,  as  fet  forth  in  the  above  Verdict. 

1  The     Great- Grand-Father    of  dians    at  Wickabang  Pond,  a  few 

Gov.  Thomas  Hutchinfon,  the  Hif-  Days    previous.      The    Governour 

torian  of  Majfacbufetts   Bay.     He  does  not  mention  this  Circumftance 

died  Aug.    19th,  1675,  °f  Wounds  in  his  Hiftory. 
received  in  an  Attack  by  the  In- 


70  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1651 

What  became  of  the  friendlefs  Man,  after  his 
Trial,  does  not  clearly  appear.  He  did  not  pro- 
bably remain  long  in  Bofton,  and  never  returned 
to  Springfield,  as  fome  of  his  Effects  were  not 
long  after  fold  for  him  by  Mr.  John  Pynchon, 
and  the  Proceeds  remitted  to  him  in  Bofton.  It 
is  believed  that  he  went  to  Narraganfet,  and 
thence  to  Long  Ifland,  which  are  all  the  Traces 
we  have  of  him. 

It  appears  from  the  Teftimonies  (which  will  be 
found  in  the  Appendix)  that  there  was  Something 
like  Confpiracy  againft  Parfons,  for  as  late  as  the 
7th  of  April,  when  Jonathan  Taylor  gave  in  his 
Teftimony  at  the  Court,  he  faid  that  Hugh  Par- 
fons came  to  him  and  defired  to  know  who  were 
his  Accufers ;  and  on  Taylor's  refufing  to  tell  him, 
Hugh  replied,  "I  know  you  can  tell.  Was  it 
ever  known  that  a  Man  mould  be  accufed  and 
not  know  his  Accufers?"  It  will  be  found  that 
whenever  Anything  is  recorded  of  what  Parfons 
faid,  on  any  Occafion,  it  (hows  a  good  Under- 
ftanding  and  Common  Senfe.  Some  Allowance 
will  of  Neceffity  be  made,  as  it  all  comes  from 
his  Accufers. 

There  no  doubt  was  Something  of  an  extenfive 
Enmity  againft  Parfons,  as  is  inferred  from  the 
general  Tenour  of  the  Teftimonies  againft  him, 
and  his  Examinations.  The  Teftimonies  amount 
to  Nothing,  being  a  Collection  of  as  childifh 
Nonfenfe  as  ever  was  got  together;  and  how  a 
Man  of  Senfe,  as  Mr.  Pynchon  is  fuppofed  to 
have  been,  could  have  fat,  day  after  day  and  lif- 


165 1  in  New  England.  71 

tened  to  it,  is  as  aftonifhing  as  the  Matter  itfelf 
is  puerile,  abfurd  and  ridiculous. 

As  has  been  noticed  in  other  Profecutions,  fo 
in  this,  it  is  very  obfervable  that  the  accufed 
Party  had  many  Enemies.  He  was  fhrewd  in 
making  Bargains,  and  perhaps  might  have  taken 
advantage  Sometimes,  when  he  thought  he  had 
made  a  hard  one,  or  been  overreached,  of  at- 
tempting to  "throw  it  up."  But  there  is  no 
Evidence  of  Difhonefty  on  his  Part.  He  was  a 
Brickmaker  as  well  as  a  Sawyer,  or  he  carried  on 
the  latter  Bufinefs.  He  had  a  Difficulty  with 
Mr.  Moxon,  the  Minifter,  refpecting  the  Bricks 
for  the  Chimney  of  his  Houfe.  Hence  Mr. 
Moxon  was  among  his  Accufers.  It  is  inferred 
that  the  Minifter  had  fome  Advantage  by  the 
Contract,  and  that  Parfons  thought  he  ought  not 
to  be  held  to  perform  it,  but  he  did  not  refufe  to 
perform  his  Part,  only,  was  wont  to  remark  as 
on  fimilar  Occafions,  that  if  Mr.  Moxon  exacted 
its  Performance  "it  would  do  him  no  good,"  or 
that  he  "would  be  Even  with  him."  Thefe 
were  very  common  Expreffions  with  him,  and 
feem  to  have  had  great  Weight  with  his  Accufers, 
as  Evidence  that  he  practifed  Witchcraft. 

Parfons  was  profecuted  fome  Time  before  this 
(1649)  Witchcraft  Affair,  by  "the  Widow  Marfh- 
field,"  for  a  Libel,  by  Words  uttered  by  his  Wife. 
We  learn  this  incidentally,  and  by  Inference  alfo, 
that  the  Libel  confifted  in  Mrs.  Parfons  faying 
that  Goodwife  Marfhfield  had  bewitched  Mr. 
Moxon's  Children.     The  Cafe  went  againfl  him 


72  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1649 

and  he  was  condemned  to  pay  the  heavy  Amount 
of  twenty-four  Bufhels  of  Indian  Corn,  and 
twenty  Shillings  in  Money.  Both  Parfons  and 
his  Wife  declared  that  this  was  owing  to  falfe 
Swearing.  Hence,  the  Records  of  that  Cafe 
would  doubtlefs  difclofe  the  Names  of  thofe  who 
fwore  againft  him,  and  that  the  fame  Individuals 
came  forward  on  the  fame  Side  to  prove  him  a 
Witch. 

From  what  can  be  gathered  in  examining  the 
Teftimonies,  it  is  Evident  that  Parfons's  Wife 
was  a  turbulent  Woman,  and  by  her  unbridled 
Tongue  had  been  the  Means  of  the  Profecution 
for  Slander  before  mentioned.  This  may  have 
been  the  Caufe  of  fome  Neglect  of  her  on  his 
Part.  This  Neglect  may  alfo  have  been  a  Caufe  of 
inconfiderate  Complaints  and  harfh  Speeches  to 
Others  by  her  againft  her  Hufband;  and  he  ap- 
pears to  have  been  a  Man  of  ftrong  Refentments, 
and  it  was  very  Natural  that  he  mould  exhibit 
them  on  fuch  Occafions,  and  that  Altercations 
arofe,  and  were  continued  until  an  entire  Ef- 
trangement  and  Hatred  put  an  End  to  all  Affec- 
tion. At  length  ill  Health,  and  a  naturally  bad 
Temper  threw  her  into  a  State  of  Infanity,  fo 
plainly  exhibited  at  the  Examination  of  her 
Hufband. 

Some  Time  previous  to  the  15th  of  May  of 
this  Year  the  People  of  Stratford,  in  Connecticut 
were  in  great  Commotion  by  Witchcraft  break- 
ing out  there.  Records,  fo  far  as  can  be  learned, 
are  nearly  Silent  refpecting  it.     From  fuch  Inti- 


165 1  in  New  England.  73 

mations  and  incidental  Notices  as  have  been 
gathered,  it  is  Evident  that  one  Goodwife  BafTett 
was  tried,  condemned  for  a  Witch,  and  executed 
in  that  Town.  Her  Trial  took  place  fubfe- 
quently  to  the  1 5th  of  May,  as  will  appear  from 
the  following  Entry  in  the  Court  Records  of 
Connecticut,  in  thefe  Words :  "  The  Gouernour, 
Mr.  Cullick  and  Mr.  Clarke  are  defired  to  goe 
downe  to  Stratford  to  keepe  Courte  vppon  the 
Tryall  of  Goody  BafTett  for  her  Life;  and  if  the 
Gouernour  cannott  goe,  then  Mr.  Wells  is  to  goe 
in  his  Roome."  It  may  be  worth  Attention  to 
remark  that  John  Haynes,  Efq.,  was  Governour, 
Mr.  John  Cullick,  Mr.  Daniel  Clarke,  and  Mr. 
John  Wells  were  Magiftrates. 

As  to  who  Goodwife  BafTett  was  there  appears 
no  prefent  Means  of  knowing,  and  it  may  hardly 
be  worth  While  to  venture  Conjectures  on  the 
Queftion.  Prefident  Dwight  Somewhere  men- 
tions her  Execution,  and  ProfefTor  Kingfley  ad- 
verts to  it  in  his  Centennial  of  1838  at  Newhaven. 
She  was  moft  likely  an  elderly  Woman,  who 
came  to  New  England  as  a  Member  of  fome 
Family,  and  perhaps  without  any  near  Relative; 
and  having  become  old,  and  none  to  take  an  In- 
terest in  her  Welfare,  it  was  eafy,  in  thofe  Days, 
and  under  fuch  Circum  fiances,  when  the  Cry  of 
"Witch"  was  once  fet  up,  to  hunt  down  and 
ruin  the  decrepit  and  friendlefs. 

Some  Writers,  with  a  greater  Defire  to  make 
their  Neighbourhood  appear  free  from  Blemifhes 
than  to  relate  Facts,  have  denied  that  there  is  any 
K 


74  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1652 

Proof  that  Executions  for  Witchcraft  took  place 
within  their  Jurifdiction.  But  in  the  Cafe  of 
Goodwife  Baffett,  Doubts  appear  to  be  gratui- 
tous. Three  Places  were  known  in  Stratford 
where  Gallows  had  flood,  before  1680.1  Per- 
fons  of  the  Name  of  Bajfett  were  early  quite 
numerous  in  Connecticut. 

1652. 

No  accurate  Opinion  can  be  formed  as  to  the 
Extent  of  a  Difturbance  occafioned  by  Agents 
from  the  Invisible  World,  by  a  fingle  Inflance 
that  happens  to  be  recorded.  It  is  reafonable  to 
fuppofe  that  Accufations  went  on  in  a  Village  or 
Town  many  Months,  and  perhaps  Years,  before 
the  Courts  felt  obliged  to  take  Cognizance  of 
them.  Thus  in  the  Town  of  Ipfwich,  in  a 
Court  held  there  in  1652,  we  are  affured  on  the 
beft  Authority,  that  a  Man  was  fentenced  to  be 
whipt,  or  to  pay  twenty  Shillings  "for  having 
Familiarity  with  the  Devil ;  "2  while  we  are  not 
told  the  name  of  the  Man,  or  what  Evidence  he 
was  convicted  on.  How  fuch  a  Sentence  could 
have  been  rendered  under  the  Laws  even  then  in 
force,  it  is  not  Eafy  to  fee. 

On  recurring  to  a  late  elaborate  Work3  the 
Name  of  the  Accufed  was  found  to  be  John 
Bradftreet  of  Rowley,  and  that  his  Crime  pro- 

1  Hinman,  Genealogy  of  the  Pu-     terly  Court  Files,  207. 
ritansy  160. 

s  By  the  Rev.  Mr.  C.  W.  Up- 

2  Felt,  Hijl.  Jpfzvicbyfrom  Quar-     ham. 


1653  ***  New  England.  75 

bably  was  for  telling  his  Dreams.  Francis  Parat 
and  his  Wife,  of  Rowley;  and  William  Bar- 
tholomew of  Ipfwich,  evidenced  that  Bradftreet 
told  them  that  he  read  in  a  Book  of  Magick,  and 
that  he  heard  a  Voice  afking  him  what  Work  he 
had  for  him.  He  [the  Voice]  anfwered,  "Go 
make  a  Bridge  of  Sand  over  the  Sea;  go  make 
a  Ladder  of  Sand  up  to  Heaven,  and  go  to  God 
and  come  down  no  more.,,  For  this  idle  and 
nonfenfical  Talk,  and  "telling  a  Lie,"  he  was 
condemned  to  pay  twenty  Shillings  or  be  whip- 
ped.    He  had  been  convicted  before  of  lying. 

l653- 
The  Affairs  at  Springfield  were  fcarcely  over 
before  the  "  Devill"  was  "  difcovered  "  among  the 
Women  of  New  Haven  Colony,  and  indirectly 
among  the  fober  and  ftrong  minded  Men  of  that 
Place.  It  is  told,  by  way  of  prefatory  Matter,1 
that  "  Moleftations  from  Evil  Spirits,  in  more 
fenfible  and  furprifing  Operations  than  thofe  finer 
Methods  wherein  they  commonly  work  upon  the 
Minds  of  all  Men,  but  efpecially  of  27/  Men, 
have  fo  abounded  in  this  Countrey,  that  I  queftion 
whether  any  one  Town  has  been  free  from  fad 
Examples  of  them.  The  Neighbours  have  not 
been  careful  enough  to  Record  and  Atteft  the 
prodigious  Occurrences  of  this  Importance,  which 
have  been  among  us.  Many  true  and  Jirange 
Occurrences  from  the  Invifible  World,  in  thefe 

1  By  Dr.  C.  Mather,  Magnalia,  B.  VI,  66. 


76  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1653 

Parts  of  the  World,  are  faultily  buried  in  Oblivion.1 
But  fome  of  thefe  very  ftupendious  Things  have 
had  their  Memory  preferved  in  the  written  Me- 
morials of  honeft,  prudent,  and  faithful  Men; 
for  every  one  of  which  we  have  had  fuch  a 
fufficient  Evidence,  that  no  Reafonable  Man  in 
this  whole  Countrie  ever  did  queftion  them." 
Whence  it  follows,  that  all  who  did  queftion 
them  were  #«-reafonable  Perfons. 

The  fecond  Perfon  who  fuffered  Death  in  the 
New  Haven  Colony,  fo  far  as  Refearches  up  to 
this  Time  have  difcovered,  was  a  Woman,  named 
Knapp.  It  is  remarked  by  a  modern  Hand,  that 
"me  fuffered  terribly  by  Witchcraft,  if  the 
trifling  Story  in  the  Magnalia  is  good  for  Any- 
thing."2 But  if  the  Accounts  contained  in  the 
original  Records  are  reliable,  of  which  there  can 
be  no  Doubt,  the  "trifling"  lies  at  the  Door  of 
our  Cotemporary.  In  following  that  Account, 
however,  he  has  placed  the  Cafe  of  "terrible 
Suffering"  about  twenty  Years  later  than  its 
actual  Occurrence;  unlefs  there  were  two  Perfons 
of  the  Name  of  Knapp  who  fuffered  for  Witch- 


1  Was  the  "prodigious   Occur-  Opinion, 
rence "  at  Springfield  unknown  to 

the  Drs.  Mather,  or  did  they  pur-  2  The  "Story"  is  copied  by  Dr. 

pofely  omit  it?     I  fee  no  Reafon  for  C.    Mather  from    the   Remarkable 

their  omitting  it,  unlefs  it  were  to  Providences   of   his    Father.       Mr: 

obliviate    Mr.    Pynchon    and    Mr.  Savage   probably  knew   this,  but  it 

Moxon.     The  former  being  in  Ad-  afforded  him  more  Pleafure  to  hurl 

vance  of  the  Age  on  the  Queftion  a  Miffile  at  the  Son  than  at  the  real 

of  Religious  Liberty,  and   the  lat-  Author.     See  N.  Eng.  Gen.  Dicl. 

ter  becaufe    he    was   of  the    fame  Art.  Knapp. 


1653  ***  Ne\&  England.  77 

craft,  one  in  1653,  and  the  other  in  1671.  This 
Point  we  muft  leave  for  him  or  others  to  recon- 
cile, and  fpeak  from  the  Record  before  us. 

Of  the  Trial  and  Execution  of  Goodwife 
Knapp.  What  Fadts  we  poffefs  regarding  her 
Cafe  came  out  at  an  Arraignment  of  Mr.  Roger 
Ludlow,  at  the  May  Term  of  the  "Court  of 
Magiftrates "  at  New  Haven,  for  defaming  the 
Character  of  the  Wife  of  Thomas  Staplies,  "in 
reporting  to  Mr.  Dauenport  and  Mrs.  Dauen- 
port,  that  me  had  laid  herfelfe  vnder  a  new  Suf- 
pition  of  being  a  Witch;  that  fhe  had  caufed 
Knapp's  Wife  to  be  new  fearched  after  me  was 
hanged,  and  when  fhe  faw  the  Teates,  faid,  if 
they  were  the  Markes  of  a  Witch,  then  fhe  was 
one,  or  fhe  had  fuch  Markes ;  fecondly,  Mr.  Lud- 
low faid  Knapps  Wife  told  him  that  Goodwife 
Staplies  was  a  Witch ;  thirdly,  that  Mr.  Ludlow 
hath  flandered  Goodwife  Staplies  in  faying  that 
fhe  made  a  Trade  of  lying,  &c." 

On  the  Trial,  Mr.  Ludlow  failed  to  convince 
the  Court  that  he  did  not  thus  charge  Mrs.  Stap- 
lies with  being  a  Witch,  or  to  make  it  appear 
that  fhe  was  a  Witch.  Whereupon  the  Court 
ordered  that  Mr.  Ludlow  "pay  to  Thomas  Stap- 
lies, by  way  of  Fine,  for  Reparation  of  his 
Wiues  Name  Ten  Pounds,  and  for  his  Trouble 
and  Charge  in  following  the  Suit  Five  Pounds 
more."  He  was  fined  at  the  next  Term  Ten 
Pounds  additional  for  accufing  her  of  lying. 

It  would  feem  that  Mr.  Ludlow  had  been  in- 


7 8  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1653 

ftrumental  in  caufing  Mrs.  Knapp1  to  be  put  to 
Death;  and  that  Mrs.  Staplies's  chief  Sin  was  in 
not  believing  that  fhe,  Goodwife  Knapp,  was 
Guilty,  and  in  reporting  agreeably  to  her  Belief. 
Lawyers  were  employed  on  both  Sides ;  Enfign 
Alexander  Bryan  on  the  Part  of  Mr.  Ludlow, 
and  Mr.  John  Banks  for  Mr.  Staplies.  Speci- 
mens of  the  Teftimony,  fo  far  as  they  bear  on 
the  Cafe  of  Mrs  Knapp,  follow: 

Mr.  Davenport2  teftified,  "that,  Mr.  Ludlow, 
fitting  with  him  and  his  Wife  alone,  and  dif- 
courfing  of  the  PafTages  concerning  Knapp's 
Wife  the  Witch,  and  her  Execution,  faid  that 
me  came  down  from  the  Ladder,  (as  he  [Daven- 
port] understood  it,)  and  defired  to  fpeak  with 
him  [Ludlow]  alone,  and  told  him  who  was  the 
Witch  fpoken  of;  and  fo  farr  as  he  remembers, 
he,  or  his  Wife  afked  him  who  it  was;  he  faid 
fhe  named  Goodwife  Staplies.  Mr.  Dauenport 
replyed,  that  he  beleeued  it  was  vtterly  vntrue, 
and  fpoken  [by  Knapp]  out  of  Malice.  Mr. 
Ludlow  anfwered^that  he  hoped  better  of  her 
[Staplies]  but  faid  fhe  was  a  foolifh  Woman ;  and 
then  told  them  a  further  Storey  —  how  fhe 
tumbled  the  Corpfe  of  the  Witch  vp  and  downe 
after    her    Death,    before    fundrie    Women,    and 

J  I  have  not  followed  the  Record  themfelves    having    little    of    Uni- 

in  refpecl  to  the  Prefixes  or  Titles  formity  in  this  Particular. 
of   fome    Perfons,    but    have    ufed 

Mrs.,  Mr.,  Goodwife  and  Good-  '2  The  Rev.  John  Davenport,  after- 
man  indifcriminately,  the  Records  wards  of  the  Firft  Church,  Bofton. 


1653  *n  New  England.  79 

fpoke  to  this  Effect, —  If  thefe  be  the  Markes  of 
a  Witch,  I  am  one,  or  I  have  fuch  Markes." 

Mrs.  Davenport  corroborated  the  Evidence 
given  by  her  Hufband.  "Goodwif  Sherwood  of 
Fairfield  affirmeth  vpon  Oath,  that  vpon  fome 
Debate  betwixt  Mr.  Ludlow  and  Goodwife 
Staplies,  me  heard  Mr.  Ludlow  charge  Goodwif 
Staplies  with  a  TracT:  of  lying,  and  that  in  Dif- 
courfe  me  heard  him  fo  charge  her  feuerall 
Times." 

Hefter,  Wife  of  Andrew  Ward,  teftified,  "that 
aboute  a  Day  after  that  Goodwife  Knapp  was 
condemned  for  a  Witch,  me  goeing  to  the  Prifon 
Houfe  where  faid  Knapp  was  kept,  me,  the  faid 
Knapp,  voluntarily,  without  any  Occafion  giuen 
her,  faid  that  Goodwife  Staplyes,  told  her  that  an 
Indian  brought  vnto  her,  the  faid  Staplyes,  two 
little  Things  brighter  than  the  Light  of  the  Day, 
and  told  the  faid  Goodwife  Staplyes  they  were 
Indian  Gods,  as  the  Indian  called  them,  and  the 
Indian  withall  told  her,  the  faid  Staplyes,  if  fhe 
would  keepe  them,  fhe  mould  be  fo  big  Rich,  all 
one  God ;  and  that  the  faid  Staplyes  told  the  faid 
Knapp  fhe  gaue  them  again  to  the  faid  Indian, 
but  fhe  could  not  tell  whether  fhe  did  fo  or  no." 

Lucy,  the  Wife  of  Thomas  Pell  fwore,  "that 
aboute  a  Day  after  Goodwife  Knapp  was  con- 
demned for  a  Witch,  Miftris  Jones  earneftly  in- 
treated  her  to  goe  to  the  faid  Kapp,  who  had  fent 
for  her;  that  fhe  called  the  faid  Hefter  Ward, 
and  they  went  together ; "  that  the  faid  Knapp 
fpoke  "Word  for  Word  as  Hefter  Ward   had 


80  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1653 

teftified.  Further,  Miftris  Pell  teftified,  "that 
fhe  being  one  of  ye  Women  that  was  required 
to  fearch  the  faid  Knapp  before  fhe  was  con- 
demned; and  then  Miftris  Jones  prefled  the  faid 
Knapp  to  confefs  whether  ther  were  any  other 
that  were  Witches;  becaufe  Goodwife  Baffett, 
when  fhe  was  condemned,  faid  there  was  another 
Witch  in  Fairfield,  that  held  her  Head  full  high; 
and  then  the  faid  Goodwife  Knapp  ftepped  a  lit- 
tle afide,  and  told  her,  this  deponent,  Goodwife 
BafTett  meant  not  her.  She  afked  her  whom  fhe 
meant,  and  fhe  named  Goodwife  Staplyes,  and 
then  uttered  the  fame  Speeches  as  formerly  con- 
cerning the  Indian  Gods." 

Elizabeth  Brewfter  fwore,  "  that  after  Good- 
wife  Knap  was  executed,  as  foone  as  fhe  was  cut 
downe,  fhe,  the  faid  Knapp,  being  carried  to  the 
Graue  Side,  Goodwife  Staplyes  with  fome  other 
Women  went  to  fearch  the  faid  Knapp,  concern- 
ing findeing  out  Teates;  and  Goodwife  Staplyes 
handled  her  very  much,  and  called  to  Goodwife 
Lockwood,  and  faid,  thofe  were  no  Witches 
Teats,  but  fuch  as  fhe  herfelf  had,  and  other 
Women  might  have  the  fame;  and  wringing  her 
Hands  and  takeing  ye  Lords  Name  in  her  Mouth, 
and  faid, —  Will  you  fay  thefe  were  Witches 
Teates,  they  were  not,  and  called  upon  Goodwife 
Lockwood  to  come  and  fee  them.  Then  fhe 
called  on  Goodwife  Odell  to  come  and  examine 
the  Teats,  for  fhe  had  been  one  of  the  Searchers 
before  the  Execution,  but  lhe  would  not.  Then 
fhe  [Staplies]  called  Goodwife  Lockwood  to  come 


1653  *n  New  England.  81 

forward  and  examine  the  Teats,  and  faid  to  her, — 
Will  you  fay  thefe  are  Witch  Teats?  I  have 
fuch  myfelf,  and  fo  have  you.  Goodwife  Lock- 
wood  replyed,  if  I  had  fuch  I  would  be  hanged, 
and  deferve  it  too.  Then  Goodwife  Odell  came 
neare,  and  told  Goodwife  Staplies  that  no  honeft 
Woman  had  fuch  Teats.  And  then  all  the 
Women  rebuking  her  [Staplies]  and  faid  they 
were  Witches  Teates;  then  the  faid  Staplies 
yielded  it."  Her  yielding  doubtlefs  amounted 
to  this,  that  finding  fhe  could  not  convince  the 
others,  ceafed  to  fay  Anything  further  at  that 
Time,  as  fenfible  People  do  now-a-days. 

Mary  Brewfter  teftified  that  fhe  was  "at  the 
Grave-Side"  after  the  Execution,  and  faw  Good- 
wife  Staplies  make  the  Examination  of  the 
Teats,  but  "went  away,  as  having  no  Defire  to 
look  vpon  them." 

Sufan,  Wife  of  Robert  Lockwood,  fwore  that 
fhe  was  at  the  Execution  of  Goodwife  Knapp, 
"that  was  hanged  for  a  Witch,"  and  after  fhe 
was  cut  down  and  brought  to  the  Grave  was 
prefent  with  other  Women  to  fearch  for  Teats ; 
that  Goodwife  Staplies  was  handling  the  dead 
Woman  "where  the  Teates  were;"  that  Good- 
wife  Staplies  "flood  vp  and  called  three  or  four 
Times,  and  bid  me  come  looke  of  them."  When 
fhe  had  done  fo  Mrs.  Staplies  afked  her  Opinion, 
as  to  whether  they  were  Witch  Teats?  She 
anfwered,  "No  Matter.  She  had  Teates,  and 
confeffed  fhe  was  a  Witch.  That  was  fufficient." 
Whereupon  Mrs.   Staplies   faid:     "If   thefe    be 

L 


82  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1653 

Teates,  here  are  no  more  than  I  myfelf  have,  or 
any  other  Woman,  or  you  either  if  you  would 
fearch  your  Body."  Sufan  Lockwood  replied 
that  fhe  did  not  know  what  Mrs.  Staplies  had, 
but  for  herfelf,  "if  any  finde  any  fuch  Things 
aboute  me,  I  deferued  to  be  hanged  as  fhe  was." 

"Thomas  Sheruington  and  Chriftopher  Comb- 
ftocke  and  Goodwife  Baldwine  were  altogether 
at  the  Prifon  Houfe  where  Goodwife  Knapp  was, 
and  the  faid  Goodwife  Baldwin  afked  her  the 
faid  Knapp  whether  fhe  knew  of  any  other 
[Witch].  She  faid  there  were  fome,  or  one,  that 
had  received  Indian  Gods  that  were  very  bright. 
Baldwin  afked  her  how  fhe  could  tell  if  fhe  were 
not  a  Witch  herfelf.  She  faid  the  party  told  her 
fo,  and  her  Hufband  was  Witnefs  to  it." 

Rebecka,  Wife  of  Cornelius  Hall,  fwore  that 
when  Mrs.  Knapp  was  on  her  way  to  be  executed, 
Mr.  Ludlow  and  her  Father  (Mr.  Jones)  preffing 
the  faid  Knapp  to  confefs  that  fhe  was  a  Witch, 
Mrs.  Staplies  faid,  "Why  fhould  fhe  confefs  that 
which  fhe  was  not?  She  made  no  Doubt  if  fhe 
were  one  fhe  would  confefs  it." 

Deborah  Lockwood,  aged  about  Seventeen, 
fwore,  that  fhe  was  prefent  when  Mrs.  Knapp 
was  going  to  Execution,  "betweene  Tryes  and 
the  Mill,  fhe  heard  Goodwife  Staplyes  fay  to 
Goodwife  Gould,  fhe  was  perfwaded  Goodwife 
Knapp  was  no  Witch.  Goodwife  Gould  faid, 
Sifter  Staplyes,  fhe  is  a  Witch,  and  hath  confeffed 
having  had  Familiarity  with  the  Deuill.     Stap- 


1653  *#  New  England.  83 

lies  replied,  I  was  with  her  Yefterday  or  laft 
Night,  and  fhe  faid  no  fuch  Thing  as  I  heard." 

Bethia  Brundifh,  aged  about  Sixteen,  faid  as 
fhe  was  "goeing  to  Execution  of  Goodwife 
Knapp,  who  was  condemned  for  a  Witch  by  the 
Court  and  Jury  at  Fairfield,  there  being  prefent 
herfelfe  and  Deborah  Lockwood  and  Sarah  Cabel, 
fhe  heard  Goodwife  Staplyes  fay,  that  fhe 
thought  Goodwife  Knapp  was  no  Witch,  and 
Goodwife  Gould  prefently  reproved  her  for  it." 

Goodwife  Whitlocke  of  Fairfield  was  the  next 
Witnefs.  She  teftified  before  Mr.  William 
Fowler  of  Milford,  May  27th,  1654,  was  prefent 
at  the  Execution  of  Mrs.  Knapp,  "  and  nex  to 
Goody  Stapleys  when  they  were  goeing  to  put 
the  dead  Corpes  into  the  Grave,  feuerall  Women 
were  looking  for  the  Markes  of  a  Witch  vpon 
the  dead  Body,  and  feuerall  of  them  faid  they 
could  find  none,  and  this  Deponent  faid,  nor  I; 
and  fhe  heard  Goodwife  Staplyes  fay,  nor  I;  then 
came  one  that  had  fearched  the  faid  Witch,  and 
fhewed  them  the  Markes  that  were  vpon  her; 
then  Goodwife  Staplyes  faid  fhe  never  faw  fuch 
in  all  her  Life ;  and  that  fhe  was  perfwaded  that 
no  honeft  Woman  had  fuch  Things  as  thofe 
were." 

Goodwife  Barlow  of  Fairfield  fimilarly  tefti- 
fied. She  with  one  of  her  Neighbours  defired 
to  fee  the  Marks  of  a  Witch  when  Mrs.  Knapp 
was  ready  to  be  buried,  and  they  looked  but 
found  none.  Then  Goodwife  Staplyes  came  and 
one  or  two  more.     H  Goodwife  Staplleyes  kneeled 


84  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1653 

downe  by  them,  and  they  all  looked  but  found 
them  not,  and  faid  they  faw  Nothing  but  what  is 
common  to  other  Women  ;  but  after  they  found 
them  they  all  wondered,  and  Goodwife  Staplyes 
in  Particular,  and  faid  they  never  faw  fuch  Things 
in  their  Life  before,  fo  they  went  away." 

The  Wife  of  John  Thompfon  of  Fairfield 
went  to  the  Grave  alfo  with  the  others,  and  "  de- 
fired  to  fee  the  Marks  of  the  Witch,"  but  found 
none  at  firft ;  "then  the  Midwife  came  and 
fhewed  them/'  and  Goodwife  Staplyes  exclaimed 
as  ftated  by  the  other  WitnefTes.  The  Wife  of 
Richard  Lyon,  and  Goodwife  Squire  of  Fairfield 
fwore  alfo  to  the  fame  purport. 

Goodwife  Sherwood  of  Fairfield  fwore  that  on 
the  Day  Mrs.  Knapp  was  condemned,  "  fhe  was 
there  to  fee  her,  all  being  gone  forth  but  Good- 
wife  Odill  and  herfelf,  then  there  came  in  Mif- 
tris  Pell  and  her  two  daughters,  Elizabeth  and 
Mary,  Goody  Lockwood  and  Goodwife  Purdy." 
Miftris  Pell  told  Mrs.  Kapp  fhe  was  fent  to  her 
"  to  have  her  confefs,"  and  that  if  fhe  knew  any 
other  Witches  to  difcover  them,  that  now  fhe 
was  condemned,  and  muft  die,  her  Confeflion 
could  not  prejudice  her  Cafe.  As  to  herfelf  and 
Family,  Miftris  Pell  faid  they  had  not  teftified 
againft  her;  that  "the  Jury  and  Godly  Magif- 
trates  had  found  her  Guilty,  and  that  the  laft 
Evidence  caft  the  Caufe.,>1  The  next  day  Miftris 

1  This   has   Reference  probably  Teftimony  of  Goodwife  Sherwood 

to  the  Perfon  who  teftified  laft  be-  it  is- inferred  that  Goodwife  Staplies 

fore    the    Jury,  on   Mrs.    Knapp's  was  the  laft  WitnefT. 
Trial  at  Fairfield  ;    and   from  the 


1653  *n  New  England.  85 

Pell  went  "to  the  Witch  again,"  with  Mr.  Jones, 
Elizabeth  and  Mary  Pell,  Miftris  Ward  and 
Goodwife  Lockwood.  Miftris  Pell  delired  Mrs. 
Knap  "  to  lay  open  herfelf,  and  make  Way  for 
the  Minifter  to  do  her  Good."  Elizabeth  Pell 
"  bid  her  doe  as  the  other  Witch  at  the  other 
Towne  did,1  and  difcover  all  me  knew  to  be 
Witches."  Mrs.  Knapp  meekly  replied  that  me 
muft  not  fay  what  was  not  true,  and  muft  not 
wrong  Anybody ;  that  when  me  came  to  the 
Ladder,  if  me  had  Anything  to  fay  me  would 
fay  it  to  Mr.  Ludlow  and  the  Minifter.  Eliza- 
beth Brewfter  then  prefent  faid  to  her,  "  If  you 
keepe  it  till  you  come  to  the  Ladder,  the  Diuill 
will  have  you  quick."  Mrs.  Knapp  replied,  "you 
would  have  me  fay  that  Goodwife  Staplyes  is  a 
Witch,  but  I  have  Sins  enough  to  anfwer  for 
already,  and  I  hope  I  mail  not  add  to  my  Con- 
demnation." She  denied  ever  having  faid  me 
knew  of  a  Witch  in  the  Town. 

The  poor  Woman  was  evidently  crufhed  by  a 
Swarm  of  deluded  Wretches,  all  endeavouring  to 
convince  her  that  fhe  was  going  into  Eternity 
with  a  Lie  on  her  Tongue,  and  knowing  of  other 
Witches,  would  not  name  them ;  warning  her 
to  "take  heede  that  the  Deuill  perfwaded  her  not 
to  fow  malicious  Seed  to  doe  hurt  when  fhe  was 
dead."  At  this,  and  much  other  fimilar  Stuff, 
Goodwife  Knapp  "burft  forth   into    weeping," 

1  The     "other     Witch"     was     executed  in   1651. —  See  ante, fub 
probably    a    Woman   named    Baf-     ano  idem. 
fett,  who  it  would  ieem   had  been 


86  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1653 

and  defired  her  Tormentor  to  pray  for  her. 
Whether  Mr.  Buckley  was  prefent  does  not  ap- 
pear, but  he  was  at  the  Execution,  and  among 
thofe  who  faw  the  Grave  clofe  over  her.  This 
was  Mr.  Gerfhom  Buckley  the  Minifter  of  Fair- 
field, and  no  Voice  of  his  was  raifed  againft  the 
Execution,  fo  far  as  appears  anywhere. 

With  all  the  Details  here  related,  and  accefli- 
ble  to  a  Hiftorian  of  Connecticut,  it  is  ftrange 
he  mould  fay,  "From  a  careful  Examination  of 
the  Records  of  New  Haven  Colony,  it  does  not 
appear  that  there  ever  was  even  a  Conviction  for 
the  Crime  of  Witchcraft,  within  that  Jurifdic- 
tion,  much  lefs  was  there  ever  an  Execution  "  I1 

Not  long  after  Mr.  Ludlow  was  fined  twenty- 
five  Pounds  for  defaming  the  Character  of  Mrs. 
Staplies,  he  left  the  Jurifdiction,  is  faid  to  have 
gone  to  Virginia,  and  nothing  was  heard  of  him 
afterwards.  It  would  feem  that  he  had  rendered 
himfelf  very  unpopular  by  the  Part  he  had  taken 
in  bringing  Mrs.  Knapp  to  the  Gallows.  That 
Unpopularity  may  have  had  an  earlier  Date,  per- 
haps Mrs.  Barrett's  Profecution  and  Execution 
may  have  been  under  his  Direction.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  the  People  were  divided  into  bitter 
Parties,  and  that  one  Party  oppofed  the  other, 
not  on  the  Ground  that  either  difbelieved  in 
Witchcraft,  but  becaufe  of  Quarrels  which  had 
Nothing  to  do  with  that  Phantom. 

There  is  a  little  Uncertainty  as  to  the  precife 

1  Hollifter's  Rift.  Conneaicut,  II,  533. 


1653  *n  New  England. 

Year  in  which  the  grim  Meffenger  of  Darknefs 
firft  appeared  in  the  Difguife  of  a  Bird  to  a 
Family  in  Andover.  The  following  Copy  from 
the  original  Depofition  in  the  Writer's  PorTeffion 
will  difplay  all  the  Facts  for  the  Reader's  De- 
liberation. It  was  made  before  the  venerable 
Governor  Bradftreet  in  1659,  from  which  it 
appears  that  the  Vifit  of  the  Witch  took  place 
about  five  or  fix  Years  previous,  namely,  in  1653 
or  1654.  Bradftreet  found  himfelf  circumftanced 
fimilarly  to  Mr.  Pynchon,  not  long  before,  as  has 
been  related.  Thefe  Gentlemen  probably  would 
never  have  taken  away  the  Life  of  an  Individual, 
although  Believers  in  the  Reality  of  Witchcraft ; 
but  if  left  to  themfelves  would  have  found  ample 
Excufe  for  not  proceeding  to  Extremities,  from 
honeft  Doubts  as  to  the  Fact  being  fully  proved. 

"The  Depoficons  of  Job  Tylar  aged  about  40 
Years,  Mary  his  Wife,  Mofes  Tylr  his  Son  aged 
betwixt  17  and  18  Years,  and  Mary  Tylar  about 
15  Yeares  old. 

"Thefe  Deponents  witnefle  that  they  faw  a 
Thing  like  a  Bird  to  come  in  at  the  Dore  of 
there  Houfe  with  John  Godfery  in  the  Night 
about  the  Bignes  of  a  Black  Bird  or  rather  big- 
ger, to  wit  as  big  as  a  Pigion,  and  did  fly  about ; 
John  Godfery  labouring  to  catch  it  and  the  Bird 
vanished,  as  they  conceived,  through  the  Chinck 
of  a  ioynted  Bord,  and  being  alked  by  the  Man' 
of  the  Houfe  wherfore  it  came,  he  anfwered,  It 


88  Annals  of  Witchcraft      1653-5 

came  to  fuck  your  Wife.     This  was  (as  they  re- 
member) about  5  or  6  Yeares  fince. 

"  Taken  vpon  Oath  of  the  4  aboue  menconed 
pties,  this  27.  4.  59.  before  mee 

"  Simon  Bradftreete. 

"Ouned  in  Court  7  Mrch,  1665,  by  Job  Tylar 
and  Mofes  Tylar.  E.  R.  Sec. 

"  Ouned  in  Court  13  March  65  by  Mary  Tyler 
on  her  former  Oath.  E.  R.  Sc." 

l653-5- 

The  Commotion  of  1653,  in  the  Town  of 
New  Haven,  alleged  to  have  been  caufed  by 
Witchcraft,  muft  have  been  long  and  fadly  re- 
membered. At  this  Period  there  was  living 
there,  a  reftlefs  inquifitive  old  Woman,  named 
Elizabeth  Godman.  She  was  probably  one  of 
the  moft  intenfe  Believers  in  Witchcraft,  being 
always  ready  when  Anything  tranfpired,  which 
me,  in  her  very  limited  Knowledge,  could  not 
fee  the  remote  or  even  the  immediate  Caufe,  to 
charge  it  to  the  Work  of  the  "  Diuell,"  or  his 
Agents,  fuppofed  then  by  Everybody  to  be  hover- 
ing in  the  Air  juft  above  them,  ready  to  take 
advantage  of  all  human  Frailties. 

How  long  before  the  Seffion  of  the  "  Court 
of  Magiftrates "  of  New  Haven,  which  com- 
menced on  the  4th  of  Auguft  of  this  Year,  the 
firft  Trouble  from  the  "  Invifible  World  "  began, 
cannot  be  ftated  ;  but  there  was  living  at  New 
Haven  at   that   Time  a   Mrs.   Godman,    as  juft 


1653-5  *n  New  England.  89 

mentioned,  in  the  Family  of  Thomas  Johnfon. 
She  appears  to  have  previoufly  refided  in  the 
u  Bay,"  at  or  near  Bofton,  at  the  Time  of  fome 
Witch  Troubles  in  that  Colony,  and  may  have 
left  there  in  Confequence  of  thofe  Troubles,  but 
how  that  may  have  been  cannot  be  definitely 
ftated.  At  all  Events,  many  of  the  firft  People 
of  New  Haven  faw,  or  thought  they  faw  Caufe 
to  accufe  Mrs.  Godman  of  Witchcraft ;  but  the 
Profecutions  which  followed  in  Confequence  were 
inftituted  by  Mrs.  Godman  herfelf.  She  went 
before  the  Court  for  Redrefs,  becaufe  of,  as  (he 
alleged,  falfe  Accufations ;  but  as  the  Parties 
accufed  were  of  the  higheft  Standing  the  Tables 
were  at  once  turned,  becaufe  the  Court  believed 
her  Accufers  inftead  of  her.  Among  thefe  were 
Goodwife  Larremore,  Goodman  Jeremy  Whitnels, 
Mr.  Stephen  Goodyeare,  and  Mrs.  Goodyeare, 
Mr.  William  Hooke,  and  Mrs.  Hooke,  Mrs.  At- 
water,  Hannah  and  Elizabeth  Lamberton,  Good- 
wife  Thorpe,  Mrs.   Bifhop,  Mary  Miles,  "  &c." 

The  Court  confifted  of  Theophilus  Eaton, 
Efq.,  the  Governour,  Mr.  Stephen  Goodyeare, 
Dept.  Governour,  Francis  Newman,  Capt.  John 
Aftwood  and  Mr.  William  Leete,  Magiftrates. 

The  firft  who  gave  her  Reafons  for  what  me 
had  faid  of  Mrs.  Godman,  was  Goodwife  Larre- 
more. She  faid  that  as  foon  as  "  (he  faw  her 
come  in  at  Goodman  Whitnels  fhe  thought  of  a 
Witch  ;  once  fhe  fpoke  to  that  Purpofe  at  Mr. 
Hookes ;  and  her  Ground  was  becaufe  Mr.  Da- 
uenport,  about  that  Time,  had  occafion  in  his 
M 


go  Annals  of  Witchcraft       1653-5 

Miniftry  to  fpeak  of  Witches  ;  and  fhowed  that 
a  froward  difcontented  Frame  of  Spirit  was  a  Sub- 
ject fitt  for  ye  Devill  to  worke  vpon  in  that  way, 
and  me  looked  vpon  Mrs.  Godman  to  be  of  fuch 
a  Frame  of  Spirit,  but  for  faying  fo  at  Goodman 
Whitnels  (he  denies  it."  Mrs.  Godman  anfwered 
that  Mr.  Whitnel's  Maid  confirmed  what  fhe 
faid ;  but  when  the  Maid  came  (he  faid  fhe 
thought  me  heard  Goodwife  Larremore  fay 
"  me  thought  of  a  Witch  in  the  Bay  when  fhe  fee 
Mrs.  Godman."  The  Governor  afked  Mrs.  Lar- 
remore if  fhe  thought  Mrs.  Godman  a  Witch, 
and  fhe  faid  fhe  did  not.  The  Court  then  told 
Mrs.  Godman  that  fhe  had  warned  divers  Per- 
fons  to  appear,  and  demanded  of  her  what  her 
Charges  were  againft  them.  She  faid  they  had 
given  out  Speeches  that  made  Folks  think  fhe  was 
a  Witch  ;  "  and  firft  fhe  charged  Mrs.  Atwater 
to  be  ye  Caufe  of  all;"  who  had  faid  fhe  was  a 
Witch,  and  that  Hobbamock  (the  Divil  of  the 
Indians)  was  her  Hufband.  The  Court  informed 
her  that  fhe  could  prove  Nothing,  although  fhe 
had  been  notified  to  have  her  Witneffes  ready. 

Then  "fundrie  PafTages  in  ye  Wrighting  were 
read."  As  "ye  Wrighting"  is  not  given  in  the 
Record,  it  is  conjectured  that  it  was  Notes  taken 
before  a  previous  Court,  and  confifted  of  Charges 
and  Evidence  going  to  prove  that  Mrs.  Godman 
was  a  Witch;  for  when  the  Writing  was  read 
the  Court  inquired  of  her  "if  thefe  Thinges  did 
not  giue  juft  Ground  of  Sufpition  to  all  that 
heard  them,  that  fhe  was  a  Witch?"     She  con- 


r653"5  *n  New  England.  91 

feffed  they  did;  "but  faid  if  fhe  fpake  fuch 
Things  as  is  in  Mr.  Hookes  Relation,  fhe  was 
not  herfelfe;  but  Mrs.  Hooke  teftifyed  that  fhe 
was  in  a  fober  Frame,  and  fpake  in  a  deliberate 
Way,  as  ordinarily  fhe  is  at  other  Times." 

Befides  what  was  evidenced  in  the  "  Wrighting," 
Mrs.  Godman  was  reminded  of  what  was  faid  at 
the  Governour's,  where  the  Writing  was  made, 
"aboute  Mr.  Goodyeares  falling  into  a  fwonding 
Fitt,  after  he  had  fpoken  Something  one  Night 
in  the  Expofition  of  a  Chapter,  which  fhe,  being 
prefent,  liked  not ;  but  faid  it  was  againft  her,  and 
as  foon  as  Mr.  Goodyeare  had  done  Duties,  fhe 
flung  out  of  the  Roome  in  a  difcontented  Way, 
and  caft  a  fierce  Looke  vpon  Mr.  Goodyeare  as 
fhe  went  out;  and  immediately  Mr.  Goodyeare, 
though  well  before,  fell  into  a  Swond.  And  be- 
fide  her  notorious  lying  in  this  Bufinefs,  for  being 
afked  how  fhe  came  to  know  this,  fhe  faid  fhe 
was  prefent,  yet  Mr.  Goodyeare,  Mrs.  Goodyeare, 
Hannah  and  Elizabeth  Lamberton  all  affirm  fhe 
was  not  in  ye  Roome,  but  gone  vp  into  the 
Chamber." 

The  Court,  having  acted  the  Part  of  an  At- 
torney for  the  Perfons  accufed,  now  fummed  up 
their  Judgment  in  thefe  Words:  That  "Mrs. 
Godman  hath  vnjuftly  called  heither  the  feuerall 
Perfons  before  named,  being  fhe  can  proue  No- 
thing againft  them,  and  that  her  Cariage  doth 
juftly  render  her  fufpitious  of  Witchcraft,  which 
fhe  herfelfe  in  fo  many  Words  confeffeth,  there- 
fore the  Court  wifheth  her  to  looke  to  her  Car- 


92  Annals  of  Witchcraft      1653-5 

riage,  for  if  further  Proofe  come,  thefe  PafTages 
will  not  be  forgotten,  and  therefore  gaue  her 
Charge  not  to  goe  in  an  ofFenfive  Way  to  Folkes 
Houfes  in  a  rayling  Manner,  as  it  feemeth  fhe 
hath  done,  but  that  fhe  keepe  her  Place,  and 
meddle  with  her  owne  Bufinefs." 

On  the  previous  Examination  of  Mrs.  God- 
win, fhe  was  afked  what  fhe  had  againft  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hooke?  It  feems  they  had  intimated  that 
fhe  had  caufed  the  Sicknefs  of  their  Son.  Now 
"Mr.  Hooke  faid  hee  was  not  without  Feares, 
and  hee  had  Reafons  for  it,  becaufe  fhee  was  fhut 
out  at  Mr.  Atwaters  vpon  Sufpition,  and  he  was 
troubled  in  his  Sleepe  aboute  Witches  when  his 
Boye  was  ficke,  which  was  in  a  verey  ftrang 
Manner;  and  he  looked  vpon  her  as  a  mallitious 
one,  prepared  to  that  Mifchief;  and  fhe  would 
often  fpeak  aboute  Witches  and  rather  juftifye 
them,  and  faid,  Why  doe  they  provoake  them? 
Why  do  they  not  let  them  come  into  the  Church  ? 
Another  Time  fhe  faid  fhe  had  fome  Thoughts, 
what  if  the  Devill  fhould  come  to  fucke  her  and 
fhe  refolued  he  fhould  not." 

Another  of  Mr.  Hooke's  Accufations  was  that 
Mrs.  Godwin  would  know  what  was  faid  and 
done  at  Church  Meetings,  before  the  Meetings 
were  over,  "  as  aboute  Delaware  Bay,  aboute 
Mr.  Cheever,  and  aboute  Goodman  Lawfon,  and 
fome  other  Things."  An  Indian  Squaw  Servant 
named  Time,  figuered  alfo  as  a  Witnefs  againft 
her.  When  Time  afked  Mrs.  Godman  how  fhe 
knew  Things?     She  anfwered  fhe  would  not  tell. 


i653~5  *&  New  England.  93 

To  which  Time  faid  "  Did  not  ye  Devill  tell  you  ?" 
Quite  as  fenfelefs  was  the  Teftimony  of  one 
Henry  Boutle;  to  the  Effect  that  Mrs.  Godwin 
talked  and  muttered  to  herfelf.  Mr.  Hooke  tes- 
tified further,  that  he  had  heard  that  Witches, 
that  is,  Perfons  afflicted  "  that  way,  would  hardly 
be  kept  away  from  ye  Houfes  where  they  doe 
Mifchief;  and  fo  it  was  with  her  when  his  Boy 
was  ficke,  fhe  would  not  be  kept  away  from  him, 
nor  gett  away  when  fhe  was  there;  and  one 
Time  Mrs.  Hooke  bid  her  goe  away,  and  thruft 
her  from  ye  Boy,  but  fhe  turned  againe,  and  faid 
fhe  would  looke  on  him."  On  one  Occafion 
Mrs.  Goodyeare  and  Mrs.  Godwin  had  a  Talk  as 
to  the  Occafion  of  the  Illnefs  of  the  Child. 
The  lafl  named  afked  the  other  if  fhe  thought 
it  was  bewitched?  Her  anfwer  implied  the 
Affirmative.  And  when  Mr.  Goodyeare  afked 
Mrs.  Godwin  if  fhe  was  not  the  Caufe  of  the 
Boy's  Sicknefs?  "She  denyed  it,  but  in  fuch  a 
Way  as  if  fhe  could  fcarce  denye  it."  l  In  being 
importuned  to  give  a  Reafon  for  the  Boy's  Sick- 
nefs, fhe  faid  it  might  be  "that  he  had  turned 
his  Braines  with  Aiding;"  yet  fhe  doubted  not 
he  would  recover,  "though  he  was  handled  in 
fuch  a  ftrange  Manner  as  the  Doctor  faid  he  had 
not  met  with  the  Like." 

Mr.  Hooke  appears  as  the  leading  Accufer.     In 
the   Courfe  of  his   Evidence  he  faid   that  when 


1  For  Shallownefs  of  Under-  bad  enough  to  be  a  Witch,  and  yet 
ftanding  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  the  fame  Perfon  hefitate  to  tell  a  Lie! 
a  Parallel  to  this.     Believe  a  Perfon 


94-  Annals  of  Witchcraft      1653-5 

Mr.  James  Bifhop  was  married,  Mrs.  Godwin 
came  to  him  in  much  Trouble,  "fo  as  he 
thought  it  might  be  from  fome  Affection"  fhe 
had  for  Mr.  Bifhop ;  fo  he  afked  her  if  that  were 
not  the  Cafe,  and  me  faid  it  was.  Mr.  Hooke 
further  adds,  that  as  foon  as  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bifhop 
were  "contracted,"  Mrs.  Bifhop  fell  into  "very 
ftrang  Fitts,  which  hath  continewed,  at  Times 
ever  fince;  and  much  Sufpition  there  is  that  fhe 
hath  bine  the  Caufe  of  the  Lofs  of  Mrs.  Byfhop's 
Children,  for  fhe  could  tell  when  Mrs.  Bifhop 
was  to  be  brought  to  bedd."  When  Mrs.  God- 
man  was  afked  why  Mrs.  Bifhop's  Children  died, 
fhe  faid  fhe  fuppofed  it  was  becaufe  of  the 
Mothers  "  longing,"  or  fomething  to  that  Effect ; 
and  Jane  Hooke  faid  that  Mrs.  Godman  told  her 
that  Mrs.  Bifhop  was  much  "given  to  longing, 
and  that  was  the  Reafon  fhe  loft  her  Children." 
Another  very  remarkable  Circumftance  was, 
and  it  was  a  "  fufpitious  "  one,  that  on  a  certain 
Time  fhe  knew  that  Mrs.  Atwater  had  Figs  in 
her  Pocket.  She  knew  fhe  had  becaufe  file 
fmelt  them,  but  Jane  Hooke  was  prefent  at  the 
Time  and  could  not  fmell  Figs  ;  therefore  Mrs. 
Godman  came  under  additional  "  Sufpition  "  of 
Witchcraft.  And  Mrs.  Atwater  faid  Mrs.  God- 
man "  could  tell  that  they  at  one  time  had  Peafe 
Porridge,  when  they  could  none  of  them  tell 
how  fhe  came  to  know  "  it.  Further,  Mrs.  At- 
water faid  that  on  the  night  the  Figs  were  fmelt, 
they  had  Strangers  to  Supper,  and  Mrs.  Godman 
was  there ;   "  fhe   cutt  a  Sopp  and  put  in  Pann  ; 


1653--5  *n  New  England.  95 

Betty  Brewfter  called  the  Maide  to  tell  her,  and 
faid  fhe  [Godman]  was  aboute  her  Workes  of 
Darknefs,  and  was  fufpitious  of  her,  and  that 
Night  Betty  Brewfter  was  in  a  moft  miferable 
Cafe,  hearing  a  moft  dreadfull  Noife,  which  put 
her  in  great  Feare  and  Trembling,  which  put 
her  into  fuch  a  Sweate  as  fhe  was  all  on  a  Water 
when  Mary  Miles  came  to  go  to  Bed,  who  had 
fallen  a  fleepe  by  the  Fire,  which  fhe  vfed  not  to 
doe,  and  in  ye  Morning  fhe  looked  as  one  yf  had 
bine  almoft  Dead."  Mrs.  Atwater  now  told 
Mrs.  Godwin  fhe  was  fufpicious  of  her,  and 
"  forwarned  her  of  her  Houfe;  "  at  which  "  fhe 
faid  fhe  would  haue  her  before  ye  Court ;  yet  the 
next  Night  fhe  came  againe  for  Beare." 

With  fuch  trifling  Details  was  much  Time 
confumed  by  the  Court,  occupying  feveral  Days 
and  many  Pages  of  its  Records.  So  much  only 
was  intended  to  be  given  here  as  would  enable 
future  Inquirers  into  the  Condition  of  Society 
and  its  Laws  at  this  Period  in  the  Life  of  New 
England,  to  form  a  correct  Opinion.  No  De- 
cifion  of  the  Court  is  recorded,  refpecting  the 
Difpofal  of  Mrs.  Godman.  But  about  two  Years 
later,  namely,  on  the  17th  of  October,  1655,  fhe 
was  called  before  the  Court  of  Magistrates,  con- 
firming of  Theophilus  Eaton,  Efq.,  Governour, 
Francis  Newman,  Mr.  Benjamin  Fenn,  and  Mr. 
William  Leete,  Magiftrates.  Being  "  called  be- 
fore this  Court  and  told  that  vpon  Grounds 
formerly  declared,  which  ftand  vpon  Record,  fhe 
by  her  owne  Conferlion  remains  vnder  Sufpition 


g6  Annals  of  Witchcraft      1653-5 

for  Witchcraft,  and  one  more  is  now  added,  and 
that  is,  that  one  time  this  laft  Summer,  comeing 
to  Mr.  Hookes  to  beg  fome  Beare,  was  at  firft 
denyed;  but  after,  fhe  was  offered  fome  by  his 
Daughter  which  flood  ready  drawne,  but  fhe 
refufed  it  and  would  haue  fome  newly  drawne, 
which  fhe  had,  yet  went  away  in  a  muttering 
difcontented  Manner ;  and  after  this,  that  Night, 
though  the  Beare  was  good  and  frefh,  yet  the 
next  Morning  was  hott,  foure  and  ill  tafted  ;  yea  fo 
hott  as  the  Barrell  was  warme  without  Side  ;  and 
when  they  opened  the  Bung  it  fteamed  forth. 
They  brewed  againe  and  it  was  fo  alfo,  and  fo 
continewed  foure  or  flue  Times,  one  after 
another. "  Such  were  the  principal  Charges 
againft  her  ;  at  leaft  thefe  thus  vaguely  fet  forth 
appear  in  the  Records  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  Colony,  then  denominated  the  "  Court  of 
Magiftrates." 

The  Records  contain  none  of  the  Evidence 
which  fhe  brought  forward  on  her  Part,  but  fay 
"  fhe  brought  diuers  to  the  Court  that  they  might 
fay  fomething  to  cleare  her,  and  much  Time  was 
fpent  in  hearing  them,  but  to  little  purpofe ;  the 
Grounds  of  Sufpition  remaining  full  as  ftrong  as 
before,  and  fhe  found  full  of  lying ;  wherefore 
the  Court  declared  vnto  her,  that  though  the 
Euidence  is  not  fufficient  as  yet  to  take  away  her 
Life,  yet  the  Sufpitions  are  cleere  and  many, 
which  fhe  cannot  by  all  the  Meanes  fhe  hath 
vfed,  free  herfelf  from;  therefore  fhe  muft  for- 
beare  from  goeing  from  Houfe  to  Houfe  to  give 


1655  in  New  England.  97 

Offence,  and  carry  it  orderly  in  the  Family  where 
fhe  is;  which,  if  fhe  doe  not,  fhe  will  caufe  the 
Court  to  committ  her  to  Prifon  again;  and  that 
fhe  doe  now  prefently,  vpon  her  Freedom  giue 
Securitie  for  her  good  Behauiour:  and  fhe  did 
now,  before  the  Court,  ingage  fifty  Pound  of  her 
Eftate,  that  is  in  Mr.  Goodyeers  Hand,  for  her 
good  Behauiuor,  which  is  further  to  be  cleered 
next  Court,  when  Mr.  Goodyeare  is  at  Home." 

As  no  notice  appears  in  the  Records  of  the 
"  next  Court,"  no  further  Proceedings,  were  pro- 
bably had  againft  her;  and  from  the  New  Haven 
Records  we  learn  that  Mrs.  Godman  lived  in  the 
Family  of  Thomas  Johnfon,  and  that  fhe  died  on 
the  9th  of  October,  1660.1 

An  Abftradr.  of  the  Laws  of  New  England,  as 
prepared  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Cotton  was  pub- 
lifhed  in  London.  In  this,  among  the  Capital 
Crimes  is  Witchcraft,  "which  is  Fellowfhip  by 
Covenant  with  a  familiare  Spirit,  to  be  punifhed 
with  Death."  It  futher  enacts,  that,  Confulters 
with  Witches  not  to  be  tolerated,  but  either  to 
be  cut  off  by  Death  or  Banifhment,  or  other  fuit- 
able  Punifhment."2 

It  was  thought  an  appropriate  Time  to  re-enacl: 
and  promulgate  Laws  againft  Familiarity  with 
the  Devil,  the  Fathers  of  that  Day  being  weak 

1  See  Colonial  Records  of  New         2  Hutchinson's  Colledion  of  Ori- 
Haven,  I,  29,  151.  ginal  Papers,  172. 

N 


98  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1656 

enough  to  fuppofe  they  could  prevent  it;  and  we 
are  told  —  what  it  is  eafy  to  believe  —  that  Ac- 
cufations  at  this  Period  were  common  in  all  Parts 
of  New  England.1  One  certainly  was  executed  in 
Bofton  in  1656,  but  her  Profecution  and  Con- 
demnation took  place  the  Year  before.  This 
was  Mrs.  Anne  Hibbins,  Wife  of  Mr.  William 
Hibbins.2  It  is  faid  that  feveral  Perfons  were 
executed  in  the  Vicinity  and  certainly  one  in 
Bofton,  in  16551  but  no  Names  or  other  Facts 
appear. 

<656. 

Refpefting  the  Execution  of  Mrs.  Hibbins, 
that  thofe  who  confummated  it  may  bear  their 
Share  of  the  Tranfaction,  their  Names  are  here 
fubjoined  :  John  Endicott  and  Richard  Belling- 
ham  were  Governour  and  Deputy  Governour ; 
Simon  Bradftreet,  Samuel  Symonds,  Robert 
Bridges,  Thomas  Wiggin,  Daniel  Gookin,  Daniel 
Denifon,  Simon  Willard,  and  Humphrey  Ather- 
ton  were  Affiftants ;  Edward  Rawfon  was  Secre- 
tary. 

The  Cafe  is  abruptly  brought  up  on  the  14th 
of  May  in  the  General  Court,  and  thus  difpofed 
of;  the  Jury  having  failed  to  bring  her  in  guilty  : 
"  The  Magistrates  not  receaving  the  Verdict  of 
the  Jury  in  Mrs.  Hibbens  hir  Cafe,  having  binn 
on    Triall   for   Witchcraft,   it   came,  and  fell  of 

1  Dr.  William  Bentley,  the  ex-  2  For     further    Particulars,    see 

cellent  Hiftorian  of  Salem.  Hi  ft.  and  Antiqs.  Bofton,  346. 


1656  in  New  England.  gg 

Courfe  to  the  Generall  Court.  Mrs.  Ann  Hib- 
bins  was  called  forth,  appeared  at  the  Barr.  The 
Indictment  againft  her  was  read,  to  which  fhe 
anfwered,  Not  guilty,  and  was  willing  to  be 
trjed  by  God  and  this  Court.  The  Evidences 
againft  hir  was  read,  the  Partjes  wittneffing  being 
prefent,  hir  Anfwers  confidered  on  and  the  whole 
Court  being  mett  together,  by  theire  Vote,  de- 
termined that  Mrs.  Anne  Hibbens  is  guilty  of 
Witchcraft,  according  to  the  Bill  of  Indictment 
found  againft  hir  by  the  Jury  of  Life  and  Death. 
The  Governour,  in  open  Court,  pronouncl:  Sen- 
tence accordingly  ;  declaring  fhe  was  to  goe  from 
the  Barr  to  the  Place  from  whence  fhe  came, 
and  from  thence  to  the  Place  of  Execution,  and 
there  to  hang  till  fhe  was  dead."  Then  follows: 
"  Itt  is  ordered,  that  Warrant  fhall  iffue  out  from 
the  Secretary  to  the  Marfhall  General  for  the 
Execution  of  Mrs.  Hibbens,  on  the  5th  Day 
next  come  Fortnight,  prefently  after  the  Lecture 
at  Bofton,  being  the  19th  of  June  next;  the 
Marfhall  Generall  taking  with  him  a  fufficient 
Guard." 

The  Evidence  which  fent  this  poor  Woman  to 
an  ignominious  Grave,  was  doubtlefs  fimilar  to 
that  given  at  other  Trials  ;  but  if  preferved  it 
has  not  been  met  with.  According  to  Hutchin- 
fon,  this  was  the  fecond  Execution  for  Witch- 
craft in  New  England,  of  which  there  is  any 
Record. 

In  Hampton,  New  Hampfhire,  a  Profecution 
commenced  againft  a  fuppofed  Witch  in  the  Year 


ioo  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1656 

1656;  and  although  Everybody  in  the  Town,  or 
nearly  Everybody  "  and  his  Relations  "  believed 
the  Accufed  a  Witch,  me  was  "  fuffered  to  live." 
Her  Name  was  Eunice  Cole,  Wife  of  William 
Cole  who  died  in  1662.  From  his  Will  made  a 
few  Days  before  his  Death,  the  Inference  is 
drawn  that  he  was  much  younger  than  his  Wife ; 
but  if  fo  it  is  a  fomewhat  of  an  anomalous  Cafe, 
as  Eunice  was  old  enough  for  a  Witch  fix  Years 
earlier,  and  as  a  general  Thing,  only  aged  Fe- 
males were  Witches  in  thofe  Days. 

According  to  the  unvarying  Traditions  in  the 
Town,  Unice  was  a  terrible  Character,  who,  in 
the  Imaginations  of  moft  of  the  People,  could 
do  fuperhuman  Things.  The  very  Mention  of 
her  Name  would  hum  crying  Children,  and 
hurry  truant  Boys  to  School.  The  Hiftorian  of 
the  Town  was  difpofed  to  give  her  no  enviable 
Character,  averring  that  "  fhe  was  a  fruitful 
Source  of  Vexation  for  a  long  Series  of  Years; 
hated  and  defpifed  for  her  ugly  and  malicious 
Difpofition,  and  feared  on  account  of  her  fup- 
pofed  Alliance  with  the  Devil."1  But  the  dili- 
gent Hiftorian  did  not  meet  with  her  earlieft 
Profecution.  He  informs  us  that  foon  after  the 
Death  of  her  Hufband,  the  Deputy  from  the 
Town  to  the  General  Court  was  charged  with  a 
Petition  to  allow  the  Town  to  detain  "  Unice 
Coule  att  the  Houfe  of  Correction  according  to 
the   Court    Order."      About    three   Years   later, 

1  Manufcript  Hijiory  of  Hampton,  by  the  late  E.  W.  Toppan. 


1656  in  New  England.  .101 

namely,  O&ober,  1665,  William  Salter  acknow- 
ledged the  receipt  of  eight  Pounds,  "  on  Account 
of  the  Town  of  Hampton,  being  due  unto  me 
for  the  Maintainance  of  Eunice  Cole,  Prifoner." 
And,  on  the  8th  of  June,  1668,  Mr.  Salter  ac- 
knowledged the  Receipt  of  another  eight  Pounds, 
"in  hogfhead  Staves,  for  keeping  Goodwife  Cole 
this  Yeare." 

Eunice  feems  to  have  been  alternately  at  large 
and  in  Prifon  ;  and  although  reprefented  as  being 
a  Terror  to  the  Town,  owing  to  her  fuppofed 
League  with  the  Devil,  (he  does  not  feem  to 
have  prevented  mifchievous  Youngfters  from  ex- 
ercifing  their  diabolical  or  fome  other  Propenfity 
of  playing  all  Kinds  of  malicious  Tricks  upon 
her.  Hence  fhe  became  a  poor  Outcaft,  defpifed 
by  the  Ignorant,  and  but  faintly  pitied,  if  at  all, 
by  the  better  Part  of  the  People.  Hence  the 
Cry  of  Witch !  Witch !  was  eafily  ftarted  at  any 
Time,  and  as  late  as  September,  1680,  fhe  was  up 
before  a  "Quarter  Court"  in  Hampton,  Maj. 
Richard  Waldron  prefiding,  "  being  by  Authori- 
tie  committed  to  Prifon  on  Sufpition  of  being  a 
Witch  ;  and  from  Examination  of  Teftimonys 
the  Court  vehemently  fufpedls  her  fo  to  be."  But 
the  Court  decided  that  "  no  full  Proof"  appear- 
ing, ordered  her  to  be  imprifoned,  and  "a  Lock 
kept  on  her  Leg,"  at  the  Pleafure  of  the  Court, 
and  the  Sele6t  Men  "  to  take  Care  to  provide  for 
her  as  formerly."  She  muft  now  have  been  very 
old,  as  it  was  twenty-four  Years  after  her  Profe- 
cution  in    1656.     For  fome  Years,  how  many  is 


io2.  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1656 

not  ftated,  me  lived  alone  in  a  little  Hut  which 
flood  on  a  Spot  in  the  Rear  of  that  on  which 
the  Academy  now  ftands.  In  that  fhe  died,  with 
none  to  affuage  her  laft  Sufferings.  Some  Days 
having  elapfed  before  her  Death  was  known,  and 
then,  according  to  the  current  Tradition,  it  re- 
quired no  little  Bravery  on  the  Part  of  the  In- 
habitants, to  mufter  Courage  enough  to  break 
into  her  Cabin ;  this  was  at  length  effected,  and 
the  Remains  dragged  out,  a  Hole  dug  near  by, 
and  the  Body  tumbled  in,  and  thus  fhe  was  there 
buried ;  and  then  a  Stake  was  driven  through  the 
Body  agreeably  to  the  Superftition  of  the  Times. 

So  far  as  is  known,  the  following  Depofitions 
are  the  firft  Acts  in  the  Tragedy  of  Eunice  Cole. 
Thomas  Colman  or  Coleman,  on  whofe  Account 
an  Action  was  commenced,  fettled  in  Hampton 
before  1650.  He  came  there  from  Newbury,  in 
which  Place  he  is  found  as  early  as  1635.  His 
Children,  born  in  Hampton,  were  Benjamin, 
1640;  Jofeph,  1642;  and  Ifaac,  1647.  Abra- 
ham Drake  was  Son  of  Robert,  at  whofe  Houfe 
the  Meeting  of  the  "  Celekte "  Men  was  held, 
as  mentioned  in  the  Depofition.  Robert  Drake 
and  his  Family  came  from  Colchefter,  in  EfTex, 
England.  Coleman,  if  the  fame  mentioned  in 
the  Founders  of  New  England,  came  from  Marl- 
borough in  Wiltfhire,  in  1635. 

"  The  Depocefhon  of  Thomas  Coleman  and 
Abraham  Drake.  Theafe  Deponents  faith, 
aboute  a  Yeare  and  halfe  agon,  thay  being  at 
Robart   Drakes  Houce  at  a    Metinge  with   the 


1656  in  New  England.  103 

Celekte  Men,  Eunes  Cooles  cam  in  two  the  faid 
Houce  and  demand  Help  of  the  Celkt  Men  for 
Wood  or  other  Thinges,  and  the  Celekt  Men 
tould  hur  fhee  had  an  Eftate  of  hur  oune,  and 
neded  noe  Help  of  the  Toune ;  whar  vppon 
Eunes  ancered,  they  cold  help  Good  man  Robe, 
being  a  lufte  Man,  and  fhee  coolde  hau  none, 
but  Eunes  faid  all  ould  not,  or  Jhould  not  doe,  and 
about  two  or  thre  Dayes  after  this,  faid  Robe 
loft  a  Kowe  and  a  Sheepe  yerry  ftrangly,  and  one 
of  the  Men  then  prefant  tould  Yunes  Cooles  fhee 
(hold  looke  at  a  Hand  of  God  in  it,  for  with- 
drauing  the  Pepell  Hartes  from  helping  of  hur. 
Eunes  Cooles  ancered,  noe,  twas  the  Deuill  did 
it.     Depofed  in  Court,  5  September,  56. 

"  Edw.  Rawson,  Secret, 

"Thomas   Coleman    and   John   Redman,   de- 
pofed to  yc  Evidence,  and  pticularly  to  ye  Words 
Jhould  not  doe.      5th  September,  56. 

"  Edw.  Rawson,  Secrety" 

[The  laft  Sentence  in  the  firft  Paragraph,  and 
all  of  the  laft  Paragraph  are  in  the  Autograph  of 
Secretary  Rawfon.] 

One  Cafe  of  Witchcraft  is  recorded  this  Year 
at  Portfmouth  in  New  Hampfhire.  Jane,  the 
Wife  of  Thomas  Walford,  fell  under  as  ftrong 
Sufpicions  as  could  well  be  imagined ;  and  pro- 
bably as  much  to  the  Point  as  any  ever  indulged 
in  elfewhere;  but  fortunately  the  Authorities 
could  not  be  inftigated  by  the  Clamours  of  the 
Multitude  to  proceed  to  Extremities. 

The  Evidence  againft  Goodwife  Walford  being, 


104-  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1656 

in  fome  Refpe&s  a  little  peculiar,  a  Specimen  of 
it  follows,  She  was  brought  before  the  Court  of 
Affiftants  on  the  Complaint  of  Sufannah  Trim- 
mings, who  teftified :  "  As  I  was  going  Home 
on  Sunday  Night,  the  30th  of  March,  I  heard  a 
ruftling  in  the  Woods,  which  I  fuppofed  to  be 
occafioned  by  Swine ;  and  prefently  there  ap- 
peared a  Woman  whom  I  apprehended  to  be  old 
Goodwife  Walford.  She  afked  me  where  my 
Confort  was.  I  anfwered  I  had  none.  She  faid, 
thy  Confort  is  at  Home  by  this  Time.  Lend  me 
a  Pound  of  Cotton.  I  told  her  I  had  but  two 
Pounds  in  the  Houfe,  and  I  would  not  fpare  any 
to  my  Mother.  She  faid  I  had  better  have  done 
it,  that  my  Sorrow  was  very  great  already,  and  it 
fhould  be  greater,  for  I  was  going  a  great 
Journey,  but  fhould  never  come  there.  She  then 
left  me,  and  I  was  ftruck,  as  with  a  Clap  of  Fire 
on  the  Back,  and  me  vanifhed  toward  the  Water 
Side,  in  my  Apprehenfion,  in  the  Shape  of  a  Cat. 
She  had  on  her  Head  a  white  linnen  Hood,  tied 
under  her  Chin,  and  her  Waiftcoat  and  Petticoat 
were  red,  with  an  old  green  Apron,  and  a  black 
Hat  upon  her  Head. 

"Taken  upon  Oath,  18  April,  1656,  before 
Bryan  Pendleton,  Henry  Sherburn,  and  Renald 
Fernald." 

If  this  Teftimony  did  not  ferve  to  convict  Mrs. 
Walford  of  Witchcraft,  it  will  ferve  fome  future 
Artift  as  an  excellent  Defcription  of  the  Coftume 
of  an  old  Woman  of  this  Period ;  for  there  may 
be  no  Queftion  but  that  the  Witnefs  defcribed  the 


1656  in  New  England.  105 

common  Drefs  of  the  Party  againft  whom  {he 
was  witneffing,  which  no  Doubt  was  the  nearly 
univerfal  Coftume  at  the  Time. 

Oliver  Trimmings,  Hufband  of  this  Witnefs, 
teftified:  "My  Wife  came  Home  in  a  fad  Con- 
dition. She  pafled  by  me  with  her  Child  in  her 
Arms,  laid  the  Child  on  the  Bed,  fat  down  upon 
the  Cheft,  and  leaned  upon  her  Elbow.  Three 
Times  I  afked  her  how  me  did.  She  could  not 
fpeak.  I  took  her  in  my  Arms  and  held  her  up, 
and  repeated  the  Queftion.  She  forced  Breath, 
and  Something  flopped  in  her  Throat,  as  if  it 
would  have  flopped  her  Breath.  I  unlaced  her 
Clothes,  and  foon  fhe  fpake,  and  faid,  Lord  have 
Mercy  upon  me,  this  wicked  Woman  will  kill 
me.  I  afked  her  what  Woman.  She  faid  Good- 
wife  Walford.  I  tried  to  perfuad  her  it  was  only 
her  Weaknefs.  She  told  me  no,  and  related  as 
above,  that  her  Back  was  as  a  Flame  of  Fire,  and 
her  lower  Parts  were,  as  it  were,  numb,  and 
without  Feeling.  I  pinched  her,  and  fhe  felt 
not.  She  continued  that  Night,  and  the  Day 
and  Night  following,  very  ill,  and  is  ftill  bad  of 
her  Limbs,  and  complains  ftill  daily  of  it." 
Sworn  as  above. 

Nicholas  Rowe  teftified:  "That  Jane  Wal- 
ford, fhortly  after  fhe  was  accufed,  came  to  the 
Deponent  in  Bed,  in  the  Evening,  and  put  her 
Hand  upon  his  Breaft,  fo  that  he  could  not  fpeak 
and  was  in  great  Pain  till  the  next  Day.  By  the 
Light  of  the  Fire  in  the  next  Room,  it  appeared 
to  be  Goody  Walford,  but  fhe  did  not  fpeak.     She 

O 


106  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1656 

repeated  her  Vifit  about  a  Week  after,  and  did  as 
before,  but  faid  Nothing." 

Elifa  Barton  depofed,  that  "fhe  faw  Sufannah 
Trimmings  at  the  Time  me  was  ill,  and  her  Face 
was  coloured  and  fpotted  with  feveral  Colours. 
She  told  me  the  Story,  who  replied,  that  it  was 
Nothing  but  her  Fantafy.  Her  Eyes  looked  as 
if  they  had  been  fcalded." 

John  Puddington  faid,  that  "three  Years  ago, 
Goodwife  Walford  came  to  his  Mothers.  She 
faid  that  her  own  Hulband  called  her  an  old 
Witch;  and  when  fhe  came  to  her  Cattle,  her 
Hulband  would  bid  her  begone;  for  me  did 
overlook  the  Cattle,  which  is  as  much  as  to  fay 
in  our  Country  bewitching." 

Agnes  Puddington  faid,  that  "on  the  nth  of 
April  the  Wife  of  Mr.  Evans  came  to  her  Houfe, 
and  lay  there  all  Night;  that  a  little  after  Sunfet 
fhe  faw  a  yellowifh  Cat;  and  Mrs.  Evans  faid  me 
was  followed  by  a  Cat  wherever  fhe  went.  John 
came  and  faw  a  Cat  in  the  Garden,  took  down 
his  Gun  to  fhoot  her.  The  Cat  got  upon  a  Tree, 
and  the  Gun  would  not  take  Fire,  and  afterward 
the  Cock  would  not  fland.  She  afterwards,  faw 
three  Cats.  The  yellow  one  vanifhed  away  on 
the  plain  Ground,  and  fhe  couM  not  tell  which 
Way  they  went."1 

Three  others  depofed  that  they  heard  Eliza- 
beth, the  Wife  of  Nicholas  Rowe,  fay  there  were 
three   Men  Witches  at  Strawberry  Bank.     One 

1  Adams's    Annals     Port/mouth,     reclions  from  the  New  Hampjbire 
38-49,  with   Additions    and    Cor-     Provincial  Papers. 


1656  in  New  England.  107 

was  Thomas  Turpin,  who  was  drowned  ;  Another 
was  "old  Ham.  The  other  mould  be  Namelefs, 
becaufe  he  mould  be  Blamelefs.,, 

Upon  thefe  Teftimonies  Goodwife  Walton  was 
bound  over  to  the  next  Court,  which  fat  in  June 
following,  when  fhe  was  again  "bound  over." 
When  the  Action  was  finally  dropped  does  not 
appear,  but  about  thirteen  Years  after,  namely,  in 
1669,  Jane  profecuted  one  Robert  Coutch  or 
Couch,  for  Slander,  in  that  faid  Couch  had  re- 
ported that  fhe  was  a  Witch.  She  got  her  Cafe, 
but  not  her  Claim  entirely.  The  Court  feem  to 
have  thought,  that  to  be  called  a  Witch,  at  that 
Time,  was  not  very  damaging  to  the  Character 
of  an  old  Woman,  who  probably,  or  poffibly  had 
a  high  Character  as  a  Termagant.  They  there- 
fore ordered  Couch  to  pay  her  five  Pounds,  and 
the  Court  the  Cofts  of  the  Profecution. 

The  following  is  given  from  fpicy  George 
Bifhop,1  who  not  very  unaptly  fpeaks  of  the 
"Bloody  Laws  and  Proceedings "  in  MafTachu- 
fetts  during  the  Administration  of  Lieutenant  Go- 
vernour  Bellingham  as  "Draconica."  He  fays, 
and  it  is  believed  truly,  that  fome  of  the  Quakers 
who  came  to  Bofton  this  Year  were  treated  as 
Witches,  and  accufed  by  Perfons  in  Authority  as 
being  fuch. 

Ann  Auftin  and  Mary   Fifher,   were,  for  dif- 


1  Wezv  England  Judged,  by  the  Women,  the  Reader  is  referred  to 
Spirit  of  the  Lord,  &c.  But  for  BeiTe's  Sufferings  of  the  Quakers, 
a  more  full  Detail  refpecling  the  II,  I  yy,  &c.  A  Work  of  the  high- 
Treatment     of     thofe     mifguided  eft  Authority  in  Quaker  Hiftory. 


108  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1656 

tributing  certain  Books  to  make  Profelytes  to  the 
Principles  of  their  Sect,  fent  to  Prifon  by  the 
Governor,  declaring  them  Witches,  "and  ap- 
pointing Women  to  fearch  them,  who  took  Men 
to  help  them,  in  Cafe  they  had  refufed,  who 
ftripped  them  ftark  naked,  not  miffing  Head  or 
Feet,  fearching  betwixt  their  Toes,  and  amongft 
their  Hair,  turning  and  abufing  their  Bodies  in 
fuch  a  Manner,  as  Modefty  will  not  admit  to 
mention. " 

Their  Books  were  taken  from  them,  and  "the 
Executioners  appointed  to  deftroy  them/'  Al- 
though thefe  Females  were  denounced  as  Witches, 
and  although  the  Law  exifted  that  Witches 
fhould  be  put  to  Death,  the  Authorities  either 
fet  the  Law  at  Defiance,  or  they  did  not  believe 
their  own  Charges.  No  Efcape  from  this  Di- 
lemma could  be  pretended.  But  they  undertook 
to  cheat  the  Devil  by  tranfporting  them  beyond 
Seas. 

We  do  not  hear  that  Cafiandra  Southwick  was 
accufed  of  being  a  Witch,  and  yet  if  any  Quaker 
ever  was  a  Witch  me  muft  have  been  one,  as  the 
Authorities  treated  her  in  the  fame  Manner  as 
they  did  the  two  Females  juft  noticed.  Whit- 
tier,  however,  has  given  the  worft  Phafe  of  the 
Proceedings  in  CarTandra's  Cafe,  relying,  it  feems, 
entirely  upon  George  Bifhop,  while  BerTe  is  more 
reliable. 

She  is  thus  poetically  painted  in  Prifon,  the 
Night  before  fhe  was  to  be  (hipped  away  to  be 
fold  for  Prifon  Fees : 


1656  in  New  England.  109 

"  All  Night  I  fat  unfleeping,  for  I  knew  that  on  the  Morrow 
The  Ruler  and  the  cruel  Prieft  would  mock  me  in  my  Sorrow, 
Dragged  to  their  Place  of  Market,  and  bargained  for  and  fold, 
Like  a  Lamb  before  the  Shambles,  like  a  Heifer  from  the  Fold  ! 

"  Slow  broke  the  gray  cold  Morning ;  again  the  Sunfhine  fell, 
Flecked  with  the  Shade  of  Bar  and  Grate  within   my  lonely 

Cell; 
At  length  the  heavy  Bolts  fell  back,  my  Door  was  open  caft, 
And  flowly  at  the  Sheriff's  Side,  up  the  long  Street  I  pafTed ; 
I  heard  the  Murmur  round  me,  and  felt,  but  dared  not  fee, 
How,  from  every  Door  and  Window,  the  People  gazed  on  me. 
And  Doubt  and  Fear  fell  on  me,  Shame  burned  upon  my 

Cheek, 
Swam  Earth  and  Sky  around  me,  my  trembling  Limbs  grew 

weak." 

Having  arrived  at  the  Place  of  Embarcation, 
Caffandra  is  made  to  fay : 

"  And  there  were  ancient  Citizens,  cloak-wrapped  and  grave 
and  cold, 
And  grim  and  flout  Sea-captains  with  Faces  bronzed  and  old, 
And  on  his  Horfe,  with  Rawfon,  his  cruel  Clerk  at  hand, 
Sat  dark  and  haughty  Endicott,  the  Ruler  of  the  Land. 

"  Dark  lowered  the  Brows  of  Endicott,  and  with  a  deeper  Red 
O'er  Rawfon's  wine-empurpled  Cheek  the  Flufh  of  Anger 

fpread ; 
'Good  People,'  quoth  the  white-lipped  Prieft,  'heed  not  her 

Words  fo  wild, 
Her  Mafter  fpeaks  within  her, — the  Devil  owns  his  Child!' 

"  Then  to  the  ftout  Sea-captains,  the  Sheriff,  turning,  faid, — 
'  Which  of  ye,  worthy  Seamen,  will  take  this  Quaker  Maid  ? 
In  the  Ifle  of  fair  Barbadoes,  or  on  Virginia's  Shore, 
You   may  hold  her  at  a   higher   Price   than  Indian  Girl  or 
Moor.'" 

And  fo  on,  with  full  poetic  Licenfe,  the  Poet 


no  Annals  of  Witchcraft      1657-8 

tells  us  that  no  one  would  undertake  the  Tranf- 
portation  of  the  "Quaker  Maid/'  and  that  (he 
thus  triumphantly  and  fcornfully  added  : 

"  I  looked  on  haughty  Endicott ;  with  Weapon  half-way  drawn, 
Swept  round  the  Throng  his  Lion  Glare  of  bitter  Hate  and 

Scorn ; 
Fiercely  he  drew  his  Bridle-rein,  and  turned  in  Silence  back, 
And  fneering  Prieft  and  baffled  Clerk  rode  murmuring  in  his 

Track." 

1657. 

A  Cafe  of  the  fuppofed  black  Art  of  Diabol- 
ifm  difturbed  the  People  of  Eafthampton  on 
Long  Ifland  in  1657.  A  Mrs.  Garlicke  was 
brought  before  the  Town  Court  on  Sufpicion  of 
Witchcraft,  and  a  Number  of  Witneffes  were  ex- 
amined in  Support  of  the  Charge.  The  Magis- 
trates after  hearing  the  Teftimony,1  and  not  being 
{killed  in  the  Science  of  Demonology,2  concluded 
to  fend  the  Accufed  to  the  General  Court  of 
Connecticut,  in  which  the  occult  Doctrine  would 
probably  be  more  fafely  applied. 

Goodwife  Garlicke  was  accordingly  fent  to 
Hartford,  and  the  General  Court  took  the  follow- 
ing Action  upon  her  Cafe2  at  the  May  Term, 
1658.  Eafthampton  was  then  within  the  Jurif- 
didtion  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  having 
been  formally  "annexed"  at  this  Court.  The 
Court  returned  the  Woman,  and  in  a  Letter  fig- 
nified  to    the  Town  Authorities,  that   they   had 

*  Wood,  Hift.  L.  IJland,  24.  2  prjme,  HijL  L.  IJland,  89. 


1657-8  in  New  England.  in 

duly  confidered  the  Cafe  of  Goodwife  Garlicke, 
having  "parTed  a  legall  tryall  therevpon;  where- 
vpon,  tho  there  did  not  appeare  fufficient  Evi- 
dence to  proue  her  guilty,  yet  we  cannot  but  well 
approue  and  commend  the  Chriftian  Care  and 
Prudence  of  thofe  in  Authority  with  you,  in 
fearching  into  yl  Cafe.  Alfo  we  thinke  good  to 
certify,  that  it  is  defired  and  expecled,  by  this 
Court,  that  you  mould  carry  neighbourly  and 
peaceably,  without  juft  Offence  to  Jos.  Garlicke1 
and  his  Wife,  and  that  they  mould  doe  the  like 
to  you.  And  ye  Charge,  we  conceive  and  ad- 
vife,  may  be  juftly  borne  as  followeth:  That 
Jos.  Garlick  mould  beare  ye  Charge  of  his  Wives 
Dyet  and  Ward  at  Home,  with  ye  Charge  of  her 
Tranceportation  Hither  and  returne  Home;  that 
your  Towne  mould  beare  all  theire  owne  Charges 
at  Home,  and  the  Charge  of  theire  Meffengers 
and  WitnefTes  in  bringinge  the  Cafe  to  Tryall 
here  and  theire  returne  Home.  The  Court  be- 
ing content  to  put  ye  Charge  of  the  Tryall  here, 
vpon  ye  Countrys  Account."2 

It  is  creditably  reported  by  a  local  Authority, 
that  Mrs.  Garlick  had  been  employed  in  the 
Family  of  Capt.  Lyon  Gardiner,  and  that  another 
Woman  in  the  fame  Employ  had  accufed  Mrs. 

1  His   Chriftian   Name   may  be  not  know)  takes  the  Abbreviation  in 

very  uncertain    from  what  is  here  Ct.    Col.    Records,   as    printed    by 

or  elfewhere  given  of  it.     Thomp-  Trumbull,  to  be  Jofeph.  Jofiah  would 

fon,  Hijl.  Long  IJland,  I,  302,  fays  have  anfwered  his  Purpofe  as  well, 
it  was  Jojhua,  Prime  has  it  John. 

Thompfon  is  probably  Right.     Sa-  2  Col.     Records    ConnecJicut,   I, 

vage  (upon  what  Authority  we  do  572-3. 


ii2  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1659 

Garlick  of  caufing  the  Death  of  her  Child ; 
while,  according  to  Capt.  Gardiner,  the  Woman 
who  had  been  a  Witnefs  againft  Mrs.  Garlick, 
had  taken  an  Indian  Child  to  nurfe,  and  ftarved 
her  own  Child  to  Death  for  the  Sake  of  the  Pay 
fhe  was  to  receive  for  fupporting  the  Indian 
Child.1 

1659. 

To  what  Extent  "Witchery"  was  practifed  in 
Say  Brook  in  Connecticut,  in  1659,  we  are  not 
informed;  that  it  did  exift,  and  difturb  the  Peo- 
ple there  is  very  fure,  or  the  following  Order 
would  not  have  been  parTed  by  the  General  Court 
of  that  Colony;  namely,  that  Mr.  Samuel  Willis 
"is  requefted  to  goe  downe  to  Sea  Brook,  to  affift 
ye  Maior  in  examininge  the  Sufpitions  about 
Witchery,  and  to  act  therein  as  may  be  requi- 
fite."2  We  do  not  find  any  Mention  of  the  Cafe 
afterwards,  which  leads  to  the  Belief  that  Mr. 
Willis  did  not  find  enough  of  Witchery  to  make 
any  Report  upon  to  the  Court. 

The  "Maior,"  whofe  Affiftance  Mr.  Willis  was 
to  receive,  was  Major  John  Mafon,  long  the  chief 
military  Man  of  Connecticut.  He  was  ftationed 
at  Saybrook  in  1647. 

Mr.  Samuel  Willis  was  Son  of  Mr.  George 
Willis  of  Hartford,  who  came  from  Fenny 
Compton,  in  Warwickshire,  England,  and  fet- 
tled there  in   1638,  and  was  Governour  of  Con- 

1  Prime,  in  his  Hijiory  of  Long  ~  Connecticut  Colonial  Records, 
IJland,  89.  I,  338. 


1659"  *n  New  England.  113 

necticut  in  1642.1  The  Name  was  afterwards 
written  Wyllysy  at  lead  in  fome  Branches  of  the 
Family,  perhaps  prefuming  this  to  have  been  the 
original  Spelling;  but  George  the  Emigrant 
figned  his  Name  Willis  to  his  Will,  and  Elfe- 
where. 

There  was  a  Commotion  in  Andover,  MafTa- 
chufetts,  in  1659,  which  muft  have  been  quite 
confiderable,  or  it  would  not  have  caufed  the 
venerable  Simon  Bradftreet  to  move  in  the  Mat- 
ter, as  there  is  clear  Evidence  that  he  did. 

Two  original  Papers  are  at  Hand,  going  to 
mow  that  one  John  Godfrey  of  that  Town  was 
accufed  of  Witchcraft,  that  Evidence  was  taken 
by  Mr.  Bradftreet,  and  that  Godfrey  was  tried  at 
Bofton  fix  Years  after.  The  Minutes  of  Tefti- 
mony  in  Mr.  Bradftreet's  Hand  are  as  follows : 

"The  Depofions  of  Job  Tylar,  aged  about  40 
Yeares,  Mary  his  Wife,  Mofes  Tylar  his  Sonn, 
aged  betwixt  1 7  and  1 8  Yeares,  and  Mary  Tylar 
about  15  Yeares  old. 

"Thefe  Deponants  witnefle  that  they  faw  a 
Thing  like  a  Bird  to  come  in  at  the  Dore  of  there 
Houfe  with  John  Godfrey,  in  the  Night,  about 
the  Bignes  of  a  Black  Bird  or  rather  bigger,  to 
wit,  as  big  as  a  Pigion,  and  did  fly  about,  John 
Godfrey  labouring  to  catch  it,  and  the  Bird  van- 
ished, as  they  conceived  through  the  Chinck  of  a 
jointed  Board;  and  being  afked  by  the  Man  of 
the   Houfe   wherefore    it    came,   he  anfwered,  it 

1  Ibidem,  468-70. 


H4-  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1659 

came   to   fuck   your   Wife.     This   was   (as    they 
rember)  5  or  6  Years  fince. 

"Taken  upon  Oath  of  the  four  aboue  men- 
coned  Parties,  this  27.  4.  59,  before  me 

"Simon  Bradstreete." 

How  it  happened  that  no  legal  Steps  were 
taken  for  "five  or  fix  Years"  after  it  was  dif- 
covered  that  John  Godfrey  was  accompanied  by 
an  evil  Spirit,  or  Imp,  we  are  unable  to  explain. 
And  equally  unaccountable  it  is  to  explain  why 
fix  other  Years  were  allowed  to  pafs  before  any 
Action  was  taken  on  the  above  Depofition. 
Whatever  the  intermediate  Steps  may  have  been, 
if  any,  they  are  quite  as  invifible  as  thofe  of 
the  preceding  "five  or  fix  Years."  Yet  it  is  cer- 
tain that  the  faid  John  Godfrey  and  his  four  Ac- 
cufers  did,  about  fix  Years  after  the  above  Depo- 
fition was  taken,  appear  before  the  Court  in  Bof- 
ton ;  for  Edward  Rawfon,  under  his  own  Hand, 
endorfes  that  Depofition  thus:  "Owned  in 
Court,  7  March,  1665,  by  Job  Tylar  and  Mofes 
Tylar."  Then  again,  "Owned  in  Court,  13 
March,  65,  by  Mary  Tyler,  on  hir  former  Oath. 
E.  R.,  Sc." 

It  feems  that  for  fome  Reafon  the  Wife  of  Job 
Tyler  did  not  arrive  as  foon  as  the  other  Mem- 
bers of  the  Family,  and  the  Court  may  have  been 
kept  waiting  for  other  Witnefles.  At  all  Events 
there  feems  to  have  been  a  Backwardnefs  among 
fome  of  the  Witnefles,  as  will  appear  by  the 
following  Letter  from  one  of  them,  dated,  as  will 
be  feen,  two  Days  before  two  of  the  Witnefles 


1659  *n  New,  England.  115 

appeared  in  Court.  They  had  probably  been  all 
fummoned  at  the  fame  Time,  and  one  of  them 
may  have  brought  Mr.  Dane's  Letter  of  Excufe. 

"To  the  honourable  Court  at  Bofton. 

"May  it  pleafe  your  Worfhips,  I  received  a 
Warrant  under  Mr.  Secretaries  Hand  for  my  Ap- 
pearance at  Bofton  this  Court,  to  giue  in  Evi- 
dence, about  fome  Words  that  Godfery  fpake  to 
mee  concerning  Witches,  the  which  I  underftand 
were  fhewne  in  the  Court  vnder  my  owne  Hand; 
but  cohfidering  ye  Neceffity  thats  incumbent  by 
Reafon  of  prevailing  Infirmity,  I  humbly  crave 
your  favourable  Interpretation  of  my  Abfence; 
tis  not  DifrefpecT:,  nor  Neglect  of  Dutie,  my  Con- 
fcience  witneffing,  but  Frailtie,  Nature,  and  the 
Rawnes  of  the  Weather;  and  now  hauing  pre- 
fented  ye  Caufe,  I  Craue  Leaue  to  draw  a  Vayle, 
defiring  Almighty  God  to  be  with  you,  and  to 
conduct  you  in  Pathes  of  Juftice  and  Rightouf- 
nes,  and  Reft. 

"Your  Honours  obliged  unto 

"all  due  Seruice  in  the  Lord. 

"March  5.  65.  Francis  Dane."1 

It  would  be  highly  gratifying  to  know  the 
Contents  of  what  was  Jhewn  in  the  Court  under 
Mr.  Dane's  Hand.  It  muft  have  been  very  un- 
fatisfadtory  in  making  out  a  Cafe  of  Witchcraft, 
or  Mr.  Dane  would  not  have  been  fummoned  to 

1  Mr.  J.  W.  Dean  has  given  an  .  Gen.  Reg.,  VIII,  147-56.  The 
excellent  Account  of  the  Dane  Hon.  Nathan  Dane  was  defcended 
Family,  in  the  N.  Eng.  Hift.  and    from  John,  Brother  of  Francis. 


n6  Annals  of  JVitchcraft  1660 

appear  in  Perfon.  His  Infirmities  from  Age 
could  not  have  been  great,  for  he  was  fcarcely 
fifty  Years  old. 

It  is  very  reafonable  to  fuppofe  that  the  Evi- 
dence againft  Godfrey  was  of  too  ridiculous  a 
Character  to  be  ferioufly  confidered,  and  that  he 
was  difcharged.  After  this  he  probably  left  An- 
dover,  as  the  Hiftorian  of  that  Town  does  not 
give  him  a  Place  in  his  Work.  Whether  he  be- 
longed to  the  Hampton  Family  of  Godfrey  is  not 
known.  He  may  have  been  the  John  Godfrey 
who  came  to  Newbury  in  1634.1 

In  the  great  and  diftreffing  Calamity  of  1692, 
Mr.  Dane  did  what  he  could  to  allay  the  Witch- 
craft Excitement,  and  had  his  Obfervations  been 
liftened  to,  and  his  Judgment  heeded,  many  Lives 
would  have  been  faved.  But  like  the  Phrenfy 
engendered  in  the  French  Revolution,  one  hun- 
dred Years  later,  this  was  a  Parallel.  His 
Brother  John,  of  Ipfwich,  was  one  of  the  Jurors 
of  the  Trials  of  1692,  and  with  others  figned  an 
Apology  afterwards.2 

1660. 

An  Attempt  was  made  at  Scituate,  in  the  old 
Colony  of  Plymouth,  to  inaugurate  a  Crufade 
againft  a  fuppofed  Witch,  but  the  Plot  was  too 
fhallow,  and  whatever  there  was  of  Deviltry  in  it 
was  thrown  upon  the  one  who  made  the  Attempt. 

1  See  Founders  of  New  England,         2  See  The  Witchcraft  Delufion  in 
page  70.  New  England,  III,  121,  135. 


1660  in  New  England.  117 

Dinah  Sylvefter  accufed  the  Wife  of  William 
Holmes  of  being  a  Witch.  From  the  imperfect 
Record  preferved  it  appears  that  Dinah  fwore  that 
Mrs.  Holmes  appeared  to  her  in  the  Shape  of  a 
Bear,  "about  a  Stones  Throw  from  the  Path," 
perhaps  in  the  Night  or  Dufk  of  the  Evening, 
but  on  this  Point  the  Records  are  filent.  On 
being  queftioned  "as  to  what  Manner  of  Tayle 
the  Bear  had,"  Dinah  faid  me  could  not  tell, 
"becaufe  the  Bear's  Head  was  towards  her."  A 
Blank  in  the  original  Record  is  conftrued  to  mean, 
by  the  able  Hiftorian  of  the  Town1  where  the 
Cafe  happened,  that  the  Teftimohy  was  probably 
too  ridiculous  to  be  entered  in  full.  And  the 
Proceedings  at  the  next  Court  fully  fuftain  the 
Remark.  Dinah  was  fummoned  before  the  Court, 
fentenced  to  pay  the  Cofts  of  Profecution,  be 
whipt  or  make  public  Acknowledgment  for 
falfely  accufing  Mrs.  Holmes.  She  chofe  the 
latter,  and  her  Acknowledgment  was  entered  on 
the  Records  of  the  Court. 

Another  Cafe  of  recorded  Witchcraft  in  the 
Old  Colony  took  place  in  1676,  as  will  be  feen  in 
the  Order  of  Time. 

In  the  Year  1660,  Sufpicions  of  Witchcraft 
fell  on  Mary  Wright  of  Oyfter  Bay,  Long  Ifland. 
She  was  a  poor  and  ignorant  Woman,  and  it  be- 
came a  Matter  of  grave  Neceffity,  according  to  the 
Hiftorian  of  Long  Ifland,2  "that  an  Offence  of 
fuch    enormous    Depravity   fhould    be  fully   and 

1  Samuel  Deane,  Hiftory  Scitu-  2  B.  F.  Thompfon,  Hiflory  Long 
ate,  152.  IJIand,  161-2. 


n8  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1660 

fatisfadtorily  inveftigated ;  but  as  there  exifted  at 
that  Time  no  domeftic  Tribunal  which  the  Peo- 
ple confidered  competent  to  hear  and  determine 
a  Matter  of  fuch  Magnitude,  or  none  to  which 
they  thought  proper  to  fubmit  the  Cafe,  it  was 
finally  concluded  to  tranfport  the  accufed  Party  to 
the  General  Court  of  MarTachufetts,  where 
Charges  of  this  Sort  were  more  common,  and 
the  Proof  neceffary  to  fupport  them  better  under- 
ftood.  She  was  accordingly  arraigned  there,  and 
the  Matter  inquired  into  with  all  the  Formality 
ufual  on  fuch  Occafions.  The  Evidence  of  her 
Guilt  failed,  and  fhe  was  acquitted  of  the  Crime 
of  Witchcraft.  She  was  neverthelefs  convicted 
of  being  a  Quaker,  a  Crime,  in  the  Eftimation  of 
the  Court,  of  almoft  equal  Enormity,  and  was 
fentenced  to  be  banifhed  out  of  the  Jurifdidtion." 
Unfortunately  for  this  Story,  Nothing  of  a 
legal  Proceeding  is  produced  from  the  Long 
Ifland  Records,  or  appears  in  the  General  Court 
Records  of  Maffachufetts.  Nor  do  the  Quaker 
Hiftorians,  who  let  no  Name  of  a  perfecuted  Per- 
fon  efcape  them,  allude  to  any  Charge  of  Witch- 
craft having  been  brought  againft  any  one  of 
their  Seel:  at  the  Period  in  Queftion.  But  under 
the  Year  1664,  Sewell,1  after  detailing  the  Treat- 
ment of  Chriftifon  and  others  in  the  "bloody 
Town  of  Bofton,"  and  lamenting  that  "no  Ex- 
hortations feemed  to  take  any  Hold  of  the  Perfe- 
cutors,"  continues :      "  For  once  a  Girl  of  thirteen 

1  Hift.  of  the  Rife,  Increafe  and     Edit.    2    Vols.,  8vo.,   Philadelphia, 
Progrefs  of  the  Quakers ,  I,   370.      1832. 


1 662  in  New  England.  119 

or  fourteen  Years  of  Age,  called  Hannah  Wright, 
whofe  Sifter  had  been  banifhed  for  Religion,  was 
ftirred  with  fuch  Zeal,  that  coming  from  Long 
Ifland,  fome  Hundreds  of  Miles  from  Bofton,  into 
that  bloody  Town,  fhe  appeared  in  the  Court 
there,  and  warned  the  Magiftrates  to  fpill  no  more 
innocent  Blood.  The  Saying  fo  ftruck  them  at 
firft,  that  they  all  fat  filent;  till  Rawfon,  the 
Secretary,  faid:  "What,  fhall  we  be  baffled  by 
fuch  a  one  as  this?  Come,  let  us  drink  a  dram. 
And  here  the  Hiftorian  abruptly  leaves  his  Read- 
ers. But  in  Befle,  under  the  Year  1661,  it  is 
ftated  that  after  Sentence  of  Death  was  paffed  on 
Wenlock  Chriftefon,  and  he  was  remanded  to 
Prifon  to  await  Execution,  which  was  to  be  on 
June  13th  (1661),  an  Order  of  Court  (probably 
occafioned  by  fome  Intelligence  from  London,  of 
Complaints  againft  them)  was  iffued  for  the  En- 
largement of  him,  and  twenty-feven  others  then 
in  Prifon," ■  for  the  Crime  of  being  Quakers. 
All  the  Names  are  given,  and  among  them  are 
found  thofe  of  Mary  Wright  and  Hannah  Wright. 
Neither  does  George  Bifhop,2  who  wrote  near  the 
Time,  add  Anything  but  the  Names  before  re- 
ferred to. 

1662. 

A  Woman  and  her  Hulband,  of  the  Name  of 
Greenfmith,  were  executed  at  Hartford  in  1662,3 

1  Sufferings  of  the  People  called  3  From  an  Entry  in  Goffe's  Di- 
Quaken,  II,  223-4.  Alfo  Abjlracl  ary,  extracted  by  Hutchinfon,  it  ap- 
of  the  Sufferings,  III,  207-8.  pears  that  on  Jan.   20,  1662,  three 

Witches  were  condemned  at  Hart- 

2  New  England  Judged,  340.         ford,  which  doubtlefs  refers  to  this 

Affair,  and  the  true  Date  is  1662-3. 


120  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1662 

or  in  purfuance  of  Acts  of  Witchcraft  begun  this 
Year.  From  what  can  be  learned  from  Sources 
now  before  us,  they  may  have  been  put  to  Death 
by  a  Mob,  as  the  General  Court  Records  contain 
no  Account  of  their  Trial  nor  Condemnation. 
Mrs.  Greenfmitb  is  alleged  to  have  been  "a  lewd 
and  ignorant  Woman ; "  that  the  latter  Part 
of  the  Charge  was  true  is  very  likely,  judging 
from  the  Anfwers  fhe  gave  when  queftioned  about 
the  Charge  of  a  League  with  the  Devil.  She 
had  been  caft  into  Prifon  under  that  Charge,  and 
while  fhe  lay  there  a  Woman  named  Ann, 
Daughter  of  John  Cole,  who  lived  near  a  Dutch 
Family,  was  feized  in  a  ftrange  Manner  with  Fits, 
"wherein  her  Tongue  was  improved  by  a  Demon 
to  exprefs  Things  which  fhe  herfelf  knew  No- 
thing of."  Among  her  Incoherencies  when  in 
thefe  Fits,  fhe  faid  certain  "  Perfons  were  confut- 
ing how  they  might  carry  on  mifchievous  Defigns 
againfl  her;  that  they  would  afflicl:  her  Body, 
fpoile  her  Name,  &c."  After  which  the  Demon 
faid,  "Let  us  confound  her  Language,  that  fhe 
may  tell  no  more  Tales."  Then  fhe  made  Utter- 
ances in  Dutch,  of  which  Language  fhe  knew 
Nothing.  "The  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  being  by,  de- 
clared, that  he  thought  it  impoffible  for  one  not 
familiar  with  the  Dutch  fhould  fo  exactly  imitate 
the  Dutch  Tone  in  the  Pronunciation  of  Englifh." 
And  "feveral  worthy  Perfons  wrote  the  intelligi- 
ble Sayings  expreffed  by  Ann  Cole,  whilefl  fhe 
was   thus    amazingly    handled."       Among    thefe 


1 662  in  New  England.  121 

"worthy    Perfons"    were    "Mr.  John  Whiting, 
Mr.  Samuel  Hooker,  and  Mr.  Jofeph  Hains." 

Among  the  Attendants  on  the  bewitched 
Woman,  fome  one  of  them  mentioned  the  Name 
of  the  poor  "lewd  and  ignorant"  Woman  then 
lying  in  Prifon,  as  already  mentioned.  She  was 
immediately  fent  for,  and  charged  with  certain 
Acts  done  and  intended  to  be  done  againft  Mrs. 
Cole;  the  fame  having  been  written  down,  and 
now  read  by  Mr.  Whiting  and  Mr.  Haines.  And 
we  are  told  that  "the  Woman  being  aftonifhed 
thereat,  confefled  thofe  Things  to  be  true,  and 
that  fhe  and  other  Perfons  named  in  this  preter- 
natural Difcourfe,  had  had  Familiarity  with  the 
Devil."  But  on  the  next  Day,  having  probably 
reflected  that  fhe  had  fallen  into  a  Snare  prepared 
for  her,  was  in  a  Rage  againft  Mr.  Haines,  and 
denied  all  Knowledge  of  Witchcraft;  but  at 
Length,  probably  bewildered  by  the  ftrange  Quef- 
tions  of  her  Tormentors,  "fhe  declared  that  the 
Devil  firft  appeared  to  her  in  the  Form  of  a  Deer 
or  Fawn;"  and  that  finally  "the  Devil  had  fre- 
quently carnal  Knowledge  of  her;"  that  "the 
Witches  had  Meetings  not  far  from  her  Houfe ; 
that  fome  appeared  in  one  Shape,  and  others  in 
another.  One  came  flying  amongft  them  in  the 
Shape  of  a  Crow."  Upon  this  Confeflion,  with 
other  concurrent  Evidence,  the  Woman  was  exe- 
cuted; fo  likewife  was  her  Hulband,  though  he 

Q 


122  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1662 

did  not  acknowledge  himfelf  guilty." l  There 
were  fome  other  Perfons  accufed  at  the  fame 
Time,  but  they  had  the  good  Fortune  to  make 
their  Efcape  by  Flight. 

It  is  conclufively  added,  that,  as  foon  as  the 
fufpected  Witches  were  either  executed  or  fled, 
Mrs.  Cole  was  reftored  to  Health!2  But  the 
crowning  Part  of  this  Tale  is  to  come,  from 
which  it  will  appear  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green- 
fmith  were  not  hanged,  according  to  the  ufual 
Cuftom,  but  "there  were  fome  that  had  a  Mind 
to  try  whether  the  Stories  of  Witches  not  being 
able  to  fink  under  Water  were  true/'  that  accord- 
ingly a  Man  and  Woman  accufed  by  Ann  Cole,  had 
their  Hands  and  Feet  tied  together  and  caft  into 
the  Water,  and  that  they  "both  fwam  after  the 
Manner  of  a  Buoy."  A  third  was  thrown  in, 
and  "he  immediately  funk  right  down." 

The  Preferver  and  Relator  of  this  Affair  in  the 
Style  of  the  Dark  Ages,  adds  concerning  thofe 
thus  inhumanly  executed,  "they  very  fairly  took 
their  Flight,  not  having  been  feen  in  that  Part  of 
the  World  fince."  3 

All  we  find  in  the  Records  in  which  the  Name 
of  Greenfmith  appears,  occurs  feveral  Years  later, 


J  I.  Mather,  Remarkable  Provi-  ~  Feb.  24  [1662-3].     After  one 

dences.     Mather  compofed  his  Ac-  of  the   Witches    was    hanged,    the 

count    from    a    Communication   of  Maid    was   Well.      Goffe's   Diary, 

Mr.    John   Whiting,    before   men-  in   Hutchinfon,   Eijlory  of  MaJJa- 

tioned.     The  Story  as  given  by  the  chufetts  Bay,  II,  p.  18. 
Latter   is    now  publifhed   in   Hiji. 

Colls.    Ms.   H.    Soc.,    XXXVIII,  3  Remarkable  Providences,  as  be- 

466-9.  fore  cited. 


1 662  in  New  England.  123 

and  is  as  follows :  "  This  Court  impowers  Mr. 
Sam11  Willys,  Captn  Tallcott  and  the  Secretary 
[Mr.  John  Allyn]  to  make  a  Deed  of  Sale  to 
Andrew  Benton,  of  Nath :  Greenfmith's  Houfe 
and  Land,  which  was  feized  for  Charge  expended 
on  faid  Greenfmith,  and  fold  to  G.  Benton. "  x 

The  diabolical  Method  of  determining  whether 
Perfons  were  Witches  by  carting  them  into  the 
Water  with  their  Limbs  tied  together  with  Cords, 
is  afcribed  by  fome  to  that  abominable  Mifcreant, 
Matthew  Hopkins,  though  it  is  faid  to  have  been 
recommended  by  King  James  (if  he  did  not  in- 
vent it),  who  affigned  as  a  Reafon,  "that  as  fuch 
Perfons  have  renounced  their  Baptifm  by  Water, 
fo  the  Water  refufes  to  receive  them." 

Butler,  in  his  peculiar  Manner  thus  refers  to 
Hopkins,  who,  it  is  faid,  fuffered  by  the  fame 
Ordeal  by  which  he  had  caufed  the  Death,  in  one 
Year,  of  no  lefs  than  lixty  Perfons  in  his  own 
County  of  EiTex : 2 

the  Godly  may  alledge 


For  any  Thing  their  Priviledge; 
And  to  the  Dev'l  himfelf  may  go, 
If  they  have  Motives  thereunto. 
For  as  there  is  a  War  between 
The  Dev'l  and  them,  it  is  no  Sin, 
If  they  by  fubtle  Stratagem, 
Make  ufe  of  him,  as  he  does  them. 
Has  not  this  prefent  Parliament 

1  Col.    Records  of   Conneclhut,     A&s,  I  will  only  refer  the  Reader 
II,  91.  to  Dr.   Hutchinfon's  EJJay,  p.  81- 

92,  where  Enough  will  be  found  to 

2  It  not  being  my  Purpofe  to  give     enable  him  to  underftand  Hudibras 
an   Account  of  Hopkins   and    his     fully,  in  the  Lines  extracted  above. 


124  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1664 

A  Legar  to  the  Devil  fent, 

Fully  empower'd  to  treat  about 

Finding  revolted  Witches  out : 

And  has  not  he  within  a  Year, 

Hang'd  Threefcore  of  them  in  one  Shire  ? 

Some  only  for  not  being  drown'd, 

And  fome  for  fitting  above  Ground, 

Whole  Days  and  Nights  upon  their  Breeches, 

And  feeling  Pain,  were  hang'd  for  Witches? 

And  fome  for  putting  knavifh  Tricks 

Upon  Green-Geefe  and  Turkey  Chicks, 

Or  Pigs,  that  fuddenly  deceaft, 

Of  Griefs  unnat'ral,  as  he  gueft ; 

Who  after  prov'd  himfelf  a  Witch, 

And  made  a  Rod  for  his  own  Breech. " l 


In  this  Connection  it  will  be  worth  While  to 
notice,  that,  a  Queftion  went  about  many  Years 
ago  in  England,  refpedting  Perfons  formerly  burnt 
for  Witchcraft;  as  to  where  and  when  the  laft 
Cafe  of  the  Kind  took  place?  The  Anfwer 
which  was  given,  has  not,  it  is  believed,  been 
called  in  Queftion.  It  amounted  to  this:  It  is 
not  quite  certain  that  Amy  Duny,  and  Rofe  Cul- 
lender or  Callender,  condemned  by  Sir  Matthew 
Hale,  at  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  were  burnt,  although 
by  fome  Accounts  it  is  fo  ftated.  In  the  fame 
Year  (1664)  Alice  Hudfon  was  burnt  at   York, 


1  Butler's    Hudibras,    Canto  III,  into  the  Water,  and  he  was  found 

p.  333-4,  edition  1684.     It  will  be  to  fwim  as  others  did.     Thus  they 

feen  by  the  Authority  before  cited,  cleared  the  Country  of  him  ;  "  and 

that   when    People  began  to  reflecl  it   was   a  great  deal  of  Pity,"  fays 

upon  Hopkins's  Doings,  they  feized  the   Relator,    "  that    they   did    not 

him,    tied    his    own    Thumbs  and  think  of  the  Experiment  fooner." — 

Toes   together,  as   he   ufed    to   tie  Dr.  Francis  Hutchinfon,  Hijiorical 

others  ;  in  this  Condition  caft  him  EJay    Concerning   Witch  crafty  87. 


1665  in  New  York.  125 

having  been  condemned  for  receiving  ten  Shillings 
on  a  certain  Time  of  the  Devil.  As  late  as  1722, 
the  Ninth  of  George  the  Firft,  a  Cafe  occurred 
at  Little  Dean,  in  Scotland,  where  a  Captain 
David  Roft  was  Judge.  But  a  Girl  was  Burnt  at 
Glarus,  in  Ireland,  in  1786! 

The  Experiment  of  cafting  into  the  Water 
occurred  as  late  as  1785.  According  to  a  Report 
in  a  Northampton  Paper  (England),  a  poor 
Woman  named  Sarah  Bradfhaw,  being  proceeded 
againft  for  Witchcraft,  was  thrown  into  a  Pond. 
She  immediately  fank  to  the  Bottom;  and  thus 
the  Wretches  who  acted  as  Executioners  were 
fatisfied  me  had  been  falfely  accufed.  This 
occurred  at  a  Place  called  Mears  Afhby. 

1665. 

During  the  Adminiftration  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  New  York  by  Richard  Nicolls,  Efq., 
one  Cafe  of  Witchcraft,  at  leaft,  found  its  Way 
into  the  Courts.  That  they  were  as  common  as 
in  other  cotemporary  Communities  of  the  Day, 
there  is  not  much  Doubt.  That  they  were  not 
Matters  of  legal  Inveftigation,  poffibly  depended 
on  the  Abfence  of  a  fpecial  Law  for  fuch  a  Con- 
tingency, or  that  the  Laws  in  general  were  lefs 
regarded  than  they  were  among  their  Neighbours 
in  fome  of  the  other  Colonies.  Certainly  in 
New  Jerfey,  the  Legends  of  an  exifting  Witch- 
craft, or  a  certain  Belief  that  it  had  exifted  there 
is  current  in  many  Places,  and  a  Witch  Tree  is, 


126  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1665 

or  was,  pointed  out  not  many  Years  ago,  in  a  cer- 
tain Locality. 

The  Cafe  which  came  before  the  Court  of 
Affizes  in  New  York  in  1665,  was  that  of  Ralph 
Hall,  and  his  Wife  Mary  Hall;  and  although 
they  were  eventually  acquitted,  they  were  held  in 
Durance  about  three  Years.1  The  Charge  in  the 
Indictment  againft  Hall  was  that  he  "upon  the 
25th  Day  of  December  [1663],  being  Chriftmas 
laft  was  twelve  Months,  and  feveral  other  Days 
and  Times  fince  that  Day,  by  fome  deteftable  and 
wicked  Arts,  commonly  called  Witchcraft  and 
Sorcery,  did  (as  fulpecled)  malicioufly  and  feloni- 
oufly  practife  and  exercife,  at  the  Town  of  Seatal- 
cott  [fince  Setauket,  now  Brookhaven],  in  the 
Eaft  Riding  of  Yorkfhire,  on  Long  Ifland,  on 
the  Perfon  of  George  Wood,  late  of  the  fame 
Place,  by  which  wicked  and  deteftable  Arts  the 
faid  George  Wood  (as  is  fufpected)  moft  danger- 
oufly  and  mortally  fickened  and  languifhed,  and 
not  long  after,  by  the  aforefaid  wicked  and  de- 
teftable Arts,  the  faid  George  Wood  (as  is  like- 
wife  fufpecled)  died."  Alfo  it  was  alleged,  in  the 
fame  Indictment,  that  an  Infant  Child  of  Ann 
Rogers,  Widow  of  the  aforefaid  George  Wood, 
had,  "fome  While  after  the  Death"  of  Wood, 
fickened  and  died,  and  that  its  Death  was  caufed 
by  the  faid  Hall.  The  fame  Indictment  was  alfo 
recited  againft  the  Wife  of  Hall,  and  then  a 
Bundle  of  Depofitions  was  read  to  the  Court  (no 

1  It  is  doubtlefs  to  this  Cafe  that     York,  refers,  p.  166,  though  in  fuch 
Watfon,    in    his    Annals   of  New     an  obfcure  Way  it  is  uncertain. 


1665  in  New  England.  127 

Witnefles  appearing  in  Perfon),  and  the  Accufed 
called  upon  by  the  Clerk  to  hold  up  the  right 
Hand,  and  the  fubftance  of  the  Charges  were 
reiterated.  They  pleaded  not  Guilty,  and  their 
Cafe  was  committed  to  the  Jury.  In  due  Time 
the  Jury  rendered  a  Verdid:,  to  the  Effect  that 
they  "found  fome  Sufpicions  of  what  the  Woman 
was  charged  with,  but  Nothing  confiderable  of 
Value  to  take  away  her  Life;  but  in  Reference 
to  the  Man,  we  find  Nothing  confiderable  to 
charge  him  with."1 

The  Sentence  of  the  Court  was,  that  Hall 
"mould  be  bound  Body  and  Goods  for  his  Wife's 
Appearance  at  the  next  Seflions,  and  fo  on  from 
Seflions  to  Seflions,  as  long  as  they  flay  in  this 
Government.  In  the  mean  While  to  be  of  good 
Behaviour. "  Under  thefe  Bonds  they  continued 
until  the  21ft  of  Auguft,  1668,  at  which  Time 
"they  were  living  upon  the  Great  Miniford's 
Ifland."  And  we  do  not  find  that  they  were 
compelled  to  pay  the  Cofts,  as  was  often  the  Cafe 
with  Parties  acquitted  elfewhere. 

In  March  of  this  Year  a  Woman  named  Eliza- 
beth Seger  was  tried  for  Witchcraft  at  Hartford, 
and  found  Guilty  by  a  Jury.  But  the  Court  was 
not  convinced  of  the  Truth  of  the  Charge,  or  of 
the  Sagacity  of  the  Jury,  and  the  Woman  was 
fet  at  Liberty.2    Whether  me  was  mulcl:  in  Cofts, 

1  Yates,     Appendix    to    Smith's  tory   of  New  Tork,  IV,    133. 
Hijl.  N.  York,  509-1 1.     Spaffbrd's 

Gazetteer  of  N.  York,  61-2.  Edi-  2  Judd,  Hijl.  Hadley,  233.  Mr. 
tion  1824.  See  a  more  accurate  Judd  has  given  us  one  of  the  very- 
Account   in  the  Documentary  Hif-  bell  Local  Hiflories. 


128  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1669 

as  was  frequently  the  Cafe  in  fimilar  Acquittals, 
is  not  known. 

1669. 

The  Profecution  of  Sufannah  Martin,  of  Salif- 
bury,  for  Witchcraft,  in  1669,  very  likely  was 
prompted  on  the  Part  of  certain  Perfons  by 
Malice.  She  was  fubfequently,  and  no  Doubt 
previoufly,  engaged  in  Litigations.  Thefe  before 
1669,  it  is  affumed,  were  the  Caufe  of  this  Profe- 
cution. Several  Perfons  who  gave  Evidence  ad- 
verfe  to  her  Claims  in  fome  civil  Actions,  appeared 
as  fwift  WitnefTes  at  her  final  and  fatal  Trial 
afterwards,  as  will  be  feen  by  confulting  the 
Wonders  of  the  Invifible  World. 

In  1672  ihe  had  the  Liberty  of  the  General 
Court  to  review  her  former  Action,  "and  fue  at 
Salifbury  Court,  fub  forma  Pauperis.,,  The  next 
Year  the  following  Record  is  made  under  the 
fame  Authority:  "In  Anfwer  to  the  Petition  of 
Sufanna  Martyn,  humbly  defiring  the  Favour  of 
this  Court  to  grant  her  further  Liberty,  and  that 
her  Sifter  Jones  may  be  joined  with  her,  further 
to  profecute  and  trye  hir  Accion  in  the  next 
County  Court  in  Norfolk,  the  Court  grants 
hir  Petition,  and  that  hir  Sifter  Jones  be  joyned 
with  hir  in  the  Profecution  and  Trjall  of  Action, 
as  hath  binn  formerly  granted  by  this  Court." 

The  following  Year  (1674)  the  General  Court 
Records  recite:  "In  Anfwer  to  the  Petition  of 
George  and  Sufanna  Martyn  and  Mary  Jones,  the 
Court  judgeth  it  meet  to  grant  the  Petitioners  a 


1670  in  New  England.  129 

Hearing  of  the  whole  Cafe  the  next  Seffion  of 
this  Court,  the  fajd  Peticoners  giving  Notice  to 
all  Partjes  concerned."  At  the  next  Court  Judg- 
ment was  given  againft  the  Plaintiffs,  with  Cofts, 
and  "five  Pounds  for  hearing  the  Cafe,  which 
laft  was  remitted  on  the  importunat  Peticons  of 
faid  Sufanna  Martyn."  Nathaniel  Window  was 
the  Defendant. 

The  Fate  of  Sufanna  Martin  in  the  memorable 
Year  1692,  is  fpecially  dwelt  upon  in  the  Work 
before  mentioned,  and  will  be  found  noticed 
when  we  come  to  that  Year. 

1670. 

Some  Time  previous  to  the  May  Term  of  the 
General  Court  of  Connecticut,  Katharine  Harri- 
fon,  of  Wethersfield,  was  arretted,  charged  with 
the  Crime  of  Witchcraft,  and  imprifoned.1  How 
long  fhe  fuffered  Imprifonment  we  have  not  the 
Means  of  Hating.  She  had  been  convicted  by  a 
Jury,  at  the  May  Term  of  the  Court  of  Aflift- 
ants.  A  fpecial  Court  was  afligned  for  her  Trial, 
with  other  Prifoners,  charged  with  other  Offences. 
What  we  find  on  Record  refpedting  her  runs 
thus:  The  Special  Court  "hauing  confidered 
the  Verdict  of  the  Jury  refpedting  Kathern  Har- 
rifon,  cannot  concur  with  them  fo  as  to  fentence 
her  to  Death,  or  to  a  longer  Continuance  in  Re- 
ftraynt."     The  Court  thereupon  ordered  her  to 

1  According  to  Judd,  fhe  was  vious  October  (1669). — Hiflory  of 
tried  by  a  Jury  at  Hartford  the  pre-     Hadley,  233. 

R 


130  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1670 

be  fet  at  Liberty;  but  with  the  monftrous  Provifo 
that  (he  fhould  pay  the  Cofts  of  her  Imprifon- 
ment!  Alfo  "willing  her  to  minde  the  Fullfil- 
ment  of  remoueing  from  Weathersfield,  which  is 
that  will  tend  moft  to  her  owne  Safety  and  the 
Contentment  of  the  People  who  are  her  Neigh- 
bours. "' 

From  thefe  fcanty  Facts  it  may  be  conjectured 
without  great  Hazard,  that  Mrs.  Harrifon  may 
have  been  a  troublefome  Neighbour,  but  how  the 
Court  juftified  itfelf  for  fuch  Decifion  a  modern 
Jurift  might  find  it  difficult  to  determine.  As 
Mrs.  Harrifon  was  obliged  to  leave  Weathersfield, 
{he  proceeded  to  Weftchefter  in  New  York,  and 
there  probably  hoped  to  remain  Quiet,  but  her 
evil  Genius  followed  her,  and  fhe  was  profecuted 
there  the  fame  Year,  and  bound  over  to  good 
Behaviour.  But  at  the  Court  in  October  follow- 
ing (1670),  it  was  ordered,  "that  in  Regard  there 
is  no  Thing  appears  againft  Katharine  Harryfon, 
Widow,  deferving  the  Continuance  of  that  Obli- 
gation, fhe  is  to  be  releafed  from  it,  and  hath 
Liberty  to  remain  in  the  Towne  of  Weftchefter, 
where  me  now  refides,  or  Anywhere  elfe  in  the 
Government,  during  her  Pleafure."2 

The  perfecuted  Woman  had  a  Family  of  Child- 
ren, but  how  many  is  not  mentioned.  There 
were  feveral  Petitions  fent  to  the  Governour  re- 
quefting  that  fhe  fhould  be  fent  out  of  Weft- 
chefter, and  the  Complaints  againft  her  feem  to 

1  Colonial  Records  of  Connecticut,  2  Yates,  Appendix  to  Smith's 
II,  132.  Hijh  New  Tork,  511. 


i6yi  in  New  England.  131 

have  been  very  general.  She  was  given  an 
Afylum  in  the  Houfe  of  one  Captain  Richard 
Panton,1  a  Name  of  rare  Occurrence  in  our  An- 
nals; but  once  occurring,  and  then  in  Connection 
of  a  moft  tragic  Event.* 

1671. 

We  come  now  to  the  Cafe  of  Elizabeth  Knap,3 
a  Maid,  of  Groton,  "who,  in  the  Month  of  Oc- 
tober, 1 67 1,  was  after  a  very  ftrange  Manner, 
fometimes  weeping,  fometimes  laughing,  fome- 
times roaring  hideoufly,  with  violent  Motions 
and  Agitations  of  her  Body,  crying  out,  Money! 
Money!  &c.  In  November  following,  her 
Tongue  for  many  Hours  together  was  drawn  like 
a  Semicircle  up  to  the  Roof  of  her  Mouth,  not 
to  be  removed,  though  Some  tried  with  their 
Fingers  to  do  it.  Six  Men  were  fcarce  able  to 
hold  her  in  Some  of  her  Fits,  but  me  would  fkip 
about  the  Houfe,  yelling,  and  looking  with  a 
moft  frightful  Afpedt.  On  December  17th  her 
Tongue  was  drawn  out  of  her  Mouth  to  an  ex- 

1  Documentary  Hiftory  of  New  and  is  in  the  Form  of  a  Diary. 
York,  IV,  136-8.  Towards  the  Clofe  he  fays  :    "  Shee 

freely  acknowledged  that  the  Devill 

2  See  Hiftory  and  Antiquities  of  was  wont  to  appear  to  her  in  the 
Boflon,  765-6.  Houfe  of  God  and  divert  her  Mind 

and  charge  her  fhee  mould  not  give 

3  The  Account  of  this  Perfon's  Ear  to  what  that  black  coated  Rogue 
"  Strange  Cafe  *  is  taken  from  one  fpake.  Whether  fhee  have  cove- 
of  extenfive  Detail  by  the  Rev.  nanted  with  the  Devill  or  not,  I 
Samuel  Willard,  who  in  the  Time  thinke  this  is  a  Cafe  unanfwerable  :" 
of  it  lived  at  Groton.  It  occupies  i.  e.,  in  this  Cafe  he  believed  fhe  had. 
fifteen  clofely  printed  oftavo  Pages,  Colls.  Ms.  H.  Soc,  XXXVIII,  570. 


132  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1671 

traordinary  Length.  And  now  a  Daemon  began 
manifeftly  to  fpeak  in  her,  in  a  Voice  not  her 
own,  and  without  any  Motion  of  her  Lips,  and 
without  the  Ufe  of  any  of  the  Organs  of  Speech. 
The  Things  then  uttered  by  the  Devil  were 
chiefly  Railings  againft  the  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel 
Willard,  then  the  Minifter  of  Groton.  Alfo  the 
Daemon  belched  forth  moft  horid  Blafphemies, 
exalting  himfelf  above  the  Moft  High.  After 
this  fhe  was  taken  Speechlefs  for  fome  Time.  In 
fome  of  her  Fits  me  accufed  one  of  her  Neigh- 
bours of  being  the  Caufe  of  her  Afflictions." 
But  it  fo  happened  that  the  Perfon  thus  cried  out 
upon  "was  a  very  fincere  holy  Woman,"  who  on 
hearing  that  (he  was  accufed,  went  to  fee  the 
"poor  Wretch."  She  found  her  in  one  of  her 
Fits,  and  though  with  her  Eyes  faft  clofed,  "de- 
clared who  was  there,  and  could  tell  the  Touch 
of  that  Woman  from  any  One  elfe.  But  the 
Party  thus  accufed  and  abufed  by  a  malicious 
Devil,  prayed  earneftly  with  and  for  the  pofTeffed 
Perfon;  after  which  fhe  confefled  that  Satan  had 
deluded  her,  making  her  believe  Evil  of  her  good 
Neighbour,  without  any  Caufe.  Nor  did  fhe 
after  that  complain  of  any  Apparition,  yea,  fhe 
faid,  that  the  Devil  had  himfelf  in  the  Likenefs 
and  Shape  of  Divers,  tormented  her  very  Diverfly 
and  cruelly,  and  then  told  her  it  was  not  He  but 
They  that  were  her  Tormentors."1  _ 

This  Story  has   been  given   to   fhow   how,  in 

1  I.  Mather,  D.  D.,  Remarkable  Providences ,  and  Magnalia,  B.  VI,  67. 


1672-3  in  New  England.  133 

thofe  Times,  a  tolerably  fevere  Cafe  of  Hyfterics1 
could  be  magnified  by  thofe  who  had  an  exceed- 
ingly large  Maggot  of  Credulity  in  their  Brains. 
Groton  is  only  thirty-three  Miles  from  Bofton, 
but  the  Story,  in  travelling  even  that  fhort  Dif- 
tance,  had  no  Doubt  fwollen  into  fuch  Propor- 
tions, as  to  have  but  a  faint  Likenefs  to  the 
Original. 

The  Condition  of  Elizabeth  Knap  was  proba- 
bly very  fimilar  to  that  of  Elizabeth  Barton  (the 
Holy  Maid  of  Kent),  who,  for  her  Pretentions  to 
Infpiration,  "Convulfions  and  ftrange  Motions  of 
Body,"  was  put  to  Death  in  the  Time  of  Henry 
the  Eighth,  1584. 

1672. 

A  Cafe  of  Witchcraft  is  reported  to  have 
occurred  in  Weftchefter  County,  New  York,  in 
1672.  A  Complaint  was  preferred  "to  the  Go- 
vernour  and  Council  againft  a  Witch  which  had 
come  among  them."  This  has  Reference,  with- 
out Queftion,  to  Katharine  Harrifon,  whofe 
Profecution  has  been  detailed  under  the  Year 
1670. 

1673. 

The  Cafe  of  Katharine  Harrifon  is  fuppofed  to 
have  been  revived  again  this  Year ;  and  the  Com- 
plaint againft  her  happened  to  be  prefented  juft 
after   the   Dutch    had    repofTerTed    themfelves   of 

1  Hutchinfon  calls  her  "another Ventriloqua" — Hi  ft.  o/Mafs.,  II,  17. 


134  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1674 

New  Amfterdam.  At  the  Time  of  the  Com- 
plaint Captain  Anthony  Colve,  who  was  in  Com- 
mand of  one  of  the  Dutch  Men  of  War  at  the 
Capture  of  the  Fort,  feems  to  have  had  the  Go- 
vernment in  his  Hands,  as  the  Complaint  was 
prefented  to  him  for  Action.  He  treated  it  with 
Contempt,  and  thus  the  Affair  ended. 

1674. 

Mrs.  Mary  Bartlett,  Wife  of  Mr.  Samuel  Bart- 
lett,  of  Northampton,  having  died  in  July  of  this 
Year,  and  as  her  Complaint  was  not  underftood 
by  fuch  "  Chirurgeons "  as  the  Neighbourhood 
afforded,  a  ready  Solution  of  the  Cafe  was  found 
by  attributing  it  to  Witchcraft.  The  next  Step 
was  to  fix  upon  the  Witch ;  and  ftrange  to  fay,  in 
this  Inftance,  one  of  the  moft,  if  not  the  moft 
accomplished,  and  of  the  higheft  Standing  in  the 
Place,  was  fixed  upon.  This  was  Mrs.  Mary 
Parfons,  whofe  Hufband,  Mr.  Jofeph  Parfons, 
was  one  of  the  wealthier!  Men  in  Northampton.1 

It  is  conjectured  that  the  Standing  of  Mrs. 
Parfons  had  much  to  do  with  the  Accufation. 
She  may  have  been  fomewhat  Exclufive  in  the 
Choice  of  her  Affociates,  and  even  of  haughty 
Manners  towards  the  Parties  by  whom  fhe  was 
fingled  out  for  Perfecution ;  but  as  to  this  Nothing 
is  pofitively  known. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  about  two  Months 

1  As  thefe  were  the  maternal  An-     as  Particular  in  detailing  the  Facls 
ceftors  of  the  Writer,  he  has  been     as  the  Documents  warrant. 


1675  *n  New  England.  135 

after  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Bartlett,  a  Court  met  at 
Springfield.  Mr.  Bartlett  in  the  Meantime  had 
beftirred  himfelf  to  procure  Evidence  to  fuftain 
his  Charge  of  Witchcraft  againft  Mrs.  Parfons, 
in  the  Shape  of  Depofitions.  This  Lady  know- 
ing what  was  going  on,  did  not  wait  to  be  fum- 
moned,  but  appeared  before  the  Court  in  Perfon. 
The  Subftance  of  her  Speech  was,  that  "fhe  did 
aflert  her  own  Innocency,  often  mentioning  how 
clear  fhe  was  of  fuch  a  Crime,  and  that  the 
righteous  God  knew  her  Innocency,  and  fhe  left 
her  Caufe  in  his  Hand."  But  her  Proteftations 
and  Difclamations  of  all  Knowledge  of  Witch- 
craft had  little  or  no  Effect  upon  the  Court  of 
Springfield,  and  that  Court  at  once  proceeded  to 
do  all  which  lay  in  its  Jurifdidtion.  It  "ap- 
pointed a  Jury  of  foberdized,  chafte  Women  to 
make  diligent  Search  upon  the  Body  of  Mary 
Parfons,  whether  any  Marks  of  Witchcraft  ap- 
pear, who  gave  in  their  Account  to  the  Court  on 
Oath,  of  what  they  found."  Whether  they  found 
Anything  extraordinary  in  their  Search  is  not 
known,  although  it  is  faid,  that  the  Report  which 
they  made,  together  with  the  Evidence,  was 
forwarded  to  the  Governour  and  Magiflrates  at 
Bofton.  The  Accufed  was  alfo  ordered  to  appear 
before  them,  and  was  bound  over  for  her  further 
Appearance,  in  the  Sum  of  fifty  Pounds,  her 
Hufband  becoming  bound  in  that  Sum. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1675,  fhe  was  indicted 
by  the  Grand  Jury,  and  fent  to  Prifon  to  await 
Trial.     On  the   1 3th  of  May  following  fhe  was 


136  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1675 

tried,  on  the  Charge  of  Witchcraft,  "in  that  me 
had,  not  having  the  Fear  of  God  before  her 
Eyes,  entered  into  Familiarity  with  the  Devil, 
and  committed  fundry  Acts  of  Witchcraft  on  the 
Perfon  or  Perfons  of  one  or  more."  She  of  Courfe 
pleaded  "not  Guilty,"  and  fhe  was  cleared  by  the 
Jury.1 

It  may  be  worthy  of  Notice  that  at  this  Time 
the  Hon.  John  Leverett  was  Governour,  and 
Generals  Gookin  and  Denifon  were  Affiftants. 
Thefe  were  three  of  the  moft  enlightened  Men 
of  the  Time,  and  they  doubtlefs  exerted  a  benign 
Influence  on  the  Jury.  Hence  Witch  Finders 
were  difcouraged,  and  the  Country  was  relieved 
for  a  Time.  An  Attempt  was  however  made 
againft  John  Parfons,  Son  of  Jofeph  and  Mary 
Parfons,  and  a  Quantity  of  Evidence  was  made 
up  to  prove  his  "Familiarity  with  the  Devil," 
but  the  County  Court  did  not  think  the  Evidence 
ftrong  enough,  or  they  had  not  Faith  enough 
in  the  Weaknefs  of  the  Governour  and  his  Arlift- 
ants  to  fend  the  Accufed  down  to  Bofton,  and 
thus  the  Cafe  was  abandoned. 

1675. 

The  Practice  of  Witchcraft  among  the  Indians 
gave  the  Englifh  a  good  deal  of  Trouble.  Per- 
haps it  did  not  occur  to  them  that  it  was  a  Child 
of  Barbarifm,  and  that  in  Proportion  to  the  Pre- 
valence of  Knowledge  it  would  difappear.     But 

l  Chiefly  from  Fads  found  in  Judd's  Hiftory  of  Hadley. 


1676  in  New  England.  137 

when  Mankind  at  any  given  Period  take  a  retro- 
fpective  View,  they  have  aflumed  that  all  Men  pre- 
vious to  their  own  Age  and  Country  were  wal- 
lowing in  an  Ignorance  far  greater  than  that  by 
which  they  were  befet.  Hence,  in  the  Year 
1675,  among  other  Laws  for  the  Government  of 
the  Pequot  Indians,  this  was  enacted  by  the 
General  Court  of  Connecticut:  "Whofoever 
fhall  Powau  or  vfe  Witchcraft,  or  any  Worfhip 
of  the  Devill,  or  any  fals  Gods,  fhall  be  con- 
vented  and  punifhed." 

1676. 

Notwithftanding  her  ftringent  Laws  againft 
Witchcraft,  the  Old  Colony  of  Plymouth  never 
found  itfelf  obliged  to  execute  any  one  for  that 
Crime,  as  is  believed.  And  for  about  fixteen 
Years  no  Cafe  of  the  Kind,  fo  far  as  known,  was 
ever  carried  into  Court.  But,  in  the  Midft  of 
the  terrible  War  with  King  Philip,  namely,  in 
March,  1676,  one  Mary  Ingham,  Wife  of  Thomas 
Ingham,  of  Scituate,  was  indicted  and  arraigned 
before  the  Court.  The  Indictment  runs  thus: 
"  Mary  Ingham :  thou  art  indited  by  the  Name 
of  Mary  Ingham,  of  the  Towne  of  Scittuate,  in 
the  Jurifdiction  of  New  Plymouth,  for  that  thou, 
haueing  not  the  Feare  of  God  before  thyne  Eyes, 
haft,  by  the  Healp  of  the  Deuill,  in  the  Way  of 
Witchcraft  or  Sorcery,  mallicioufly  procured  much 
Hurt,  MifcheifFe,  and  Paine  vnto  the  Body  of 
Mehittable  Woodworth,  the  Daughter  of  Walter 
S 


138  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1676 

Woodworth,  of  Scittuate  aforefaid  and  fome 
Others,  and  particularly  caufing  her,  the  faid  Me- 
hittable,  to  fall  into  violent  Fitts  and  caufing 
great  Paine  vnto  feueral  Parts  of  her  Body  att 
feuerall  Times,  foe  as  fhee,  the  faid  Mehittable 
Woodworth,  hath  bin  almoft  bereaued  of  her 
Sences,  and  hath  greatly  languifhed,  to  her  much 
Suffering  therby,  and  the  Procuring  of  great 
Greiffe,  Sorrow,  and  Charge  to  her  Parents;  all 
which  thou  haft  procured  and  don  againft  the 
Law  of  God,  and  to  his  great  Difhonor,  and 
Contrary  to  our  Soueraign  Lord  the  King,  his 
Crowne  and  Dignitie." 

After  all  this  high  founding  Manifefto,  fome 
Show  of  a  Trial  might  reafonably  be  expected, 
and  at  leaft  the  Names  of  WitnefTes  given ;  but 
there  appears  Nothing  of  the  Kind  on  Record. 
The  Records,  however,  do  fay  :  "The  faid  Mary 
Ingham  did  putt  herfelfe  on  the  Tryall  of  God 
and  the  Countrey,"  and  was  cleared  of  this  "In- 
ditement  in  ProceiTe  of  Law  by  a  Jury  of  twelue 
Men." 

It  would  be  exceedingly  Interefting  to  know 
what  the  Evidence  was  againft  the  Accufed ;  for 
without  it  we  cannot  give  the  Court  credit  either 
for  Sagacity  or  Lenity.  But  in  the  State  of  So- 
ciety of  that  Time,  we  may  reafonably  conclude 
that  the  Evidence  muft  have  been  lame  indeed, 
or  the  Party  would  not  have  efcaped  Conviction. 
Jofiah  Winflow  was  Governour  of  the  Colony, 
and  the  Jury  that  tried  Mary  Ingham  confifted 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Halkins,  John  Wadfworth,  John 


J 


1678  in  New  England.  139 

Howland,  Abraham  Jackfon,  Benajah  Pratt,  John 
Blacke,  Marke  Snow,  Jofeph  Bartlett,  John  Rich- 
mond, Jerud  Talbutt,  John  Fofter,  and  Seth 
Pope. 

This  Trial  took  place  during  the  darkeft  Days 
of  a  War,  which,  of  itfelf  was  enough,  as  lince 
viewed,  to  have  diverted  the  Mind  of  every  In- 
habitant from  all  Subjects  excepting  what  might 
tend  to  the  Prefervation  of  the  Country.  But 
Superftition  and  Fanaticifm  cling  to  the  unculti- 
vated Mind,  even  to  the  Jaws  of  Death. 

To  urge  at  this  Day,  the  Claim  for  the  Peo- 
ple of  Plymouth,  that  it  was  owing  to  their 
"good  Senfe,"  or  fuperior  Wifdom,  that  None 
were  put  to  Death  for  Witchcraft,  is  very  Pre- 
pofterous.  The  fimple  Reafon  that  no  Execu- 
tions took  place  in  fome  of  the  New  England 
Colonies  is,  the  Evidence  brought  forward  was 
not  fo  ftrong  as  was  produced  in  thofe  Colonies 
where  Executions  followed  Convictions;  not 
that  the  Authorities  were  lefs  difpofed  to  fuch 
Profecutions. 

1678. 

Thomas  Mayhew,  of  Martha's  Vineyard, 
wrote  to  the  Commiffioners  of  the  United  Co- 
lonies, apparently  in  Anfwer  to  Queftions  relating 
to  the  Condition  of  the  Indians  of  that  Ifland, 
that  there  were  about  one  hundred  and  forty 
Men     there    which    were    "not    tainted    with 

1  His  Letter  may  be  feen  in  the     nealogical  Regijler,  Vol.  IV,    1 7. 
New  England  Hifioricai  and  Ge- 


140  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1679 

DrunkennefTe,"  and  that  as  to  Witchcraft,  that 
was  out  of  Ufe  among  them.  Hence,  if  this 
Statement  was  correct,  the  Indians  of  that  Lo- 
cality were  much  in  Advance  of  their  white 
Neighbours. 

1679. 

In  Northampton  the  Powers  of  Darknefs  were 
again  "vifible"  in  1679.  On  the  7th  of  March 
of  this  Year  died  one  John  Stebbins  in  an  unufual 
Manner,  as  was  alleged  by  a  Jury  of  Inqueft, 
confifting  of  twelve  Men,  among  whom  was  Dr. 
Thomas  Haftings  of  Hatfield.  The  Jury  found 
"  feveral  hundred  fmall  Spots  on  the  Body,  as  if 
made  with  fmall  Shot.  Thofe  Spots  were  fcraped, 
and  Holes  found  under  them  into  the  Body." 
Whereupon  it  was  fufpected  that  it  was  done  by 
Witchcraft.  The  Wife  of  the  Deceafed  was  a 
Sifter  to  Samuel  Bartlett.  This  Individual, 
although  he  had  failed  to  convict  Mrs.  Parfons, 
as  before  detailed,  probably  hoped  now  to  have 
better  Succefs.  The  County  Court,  as  appears 
by  its  A<fts,  had  more  Faith  in  this  Accufation 
than  in  that  of  the  Cafe  of  John  Parfons,  for 
they  received  the  Evidence  and  tranfmitted  it  to 
Governor  Bradftreet,  but  the  Governor  did  not 
take  Notice  enough  of  the  Accufation  to  fend 
for  the  Party,  and  thus  the  Matter  went  by. 

Tradition  in  Hadley  fays,  that  John  Stebbins 
was  at  Work  in  a  Saw-mill  a  little  Time  before 
his  Death  ;  that  the  Logs  and  Boards  became  be- 
witched  and  cut  up   ftrange-and  divers  Capers, 


1679  in  New  England.  14.1 

and  that  in  fome  of  their  diabolical  Manoeuvres 
they  interfered  with  John,  but  in  what  Manner 
is  not  ftated,  though  they  were  fuppofed  to  have 
caufed  his  Death. 

Simple,  unfufpecling,  and  honeft  People  have 
often  been  the  Victims  to  thofe  who  pra&ife 
malicious  Mifchief,  as  well  as  to  thofe  who  prac- 
tife  different  Kinds  of  Rafcality.  There  were 
living  at  this  Time  in  Newbury  feveral  Families 
of  the  Name  of  Morfe;  the  oldeft  or  principal 
Family  was  that  of  William  Morfe.  He  had 
lived  in  that  Town  fince  1635,  having  emigrated 
from  Marlborough,  in  Wiltfhire,  in  the  early 
Part  of  that  Year,  and  was  by  Occupation  a 
Shoemaker.  He  had  a  Wife  Elizabeth  whom 
he  probably  married  after  he  came  to  New 
England.1  In  this  Family  lived  a  Boy  named 
John  Stiles,  a  Grandfon  of  William  Morfe. 
What  was  the  Age  of  this  Boy,  or  what  infti- 
gated  him  to  undertake  the  tormenting  of  his 
Grand-parents,  there  is  no  Mention  as  yet  dif- 
covered.  Perhaps  he  intended  no  more  at  Firft 
than  to  frighten  them  by  fome  deceptive  boyiih 
Pranks,  and  fucceeding  fully  in  that,  proceeded 
till  his  Pranks  became  Outrages,  by  which  he 
deceived  nearly  Everybody. 

It  was  a  Period  when,  if  Anything  occurred, 
the  Origin  or  Reafon  for  which  was  not  under- 
stood or  comprehended,  and  appeared  ftranger 
than  ufual,  the  Mind,   inftead  of  inveftigating, 

1  Founders  of  New  England,  Page  56. 


142  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1679 

fell  back  upon  the  ever  ready  and  eafy  Solution, 
that  fuch  was  caufed  by  Witchcraft. 

How  long  the  young  Scamp  carried  on  his 
Annoyances  before  any  Complaint  was  made  to 
the  Authorities,  does  not  appear,  but  it  was  for 
fome  Time  previous  to  December  of  this  Year 
(1679),  as  one  Caleb  Powell  had  become  ac- 
quainted with  what  was  going  on,  and  offered 
his  Services  to  put  a  Stop  to  the  myfterious  Fall 
of  Brick-bats  down  the  Chimney,  Pots  and  Ket- 
tles dancing  on  the  Crane,  and  Irons  jumping  in 
and  out  of  the  Kettles,  and  fuch  like  extraor- 
dinary Manoeuvres.  Powell,  it  feems,  was  a  fea- 
faring  Man,  and  it  is  fuppofed,  that  in  Order  to 
give  himfelf  large  Importance  in  the  Eyes  of  the 
People  of  Newbury,  he  pretended  to  a  Know- 
ledge in  the  occult  Sciences,  and  that  by  Means 
of  this  Knowledge  he  could  detect  the  Witch- 
craft then  going  on  at  Mr.  Morfe's.  However 
this  may  have  been,  Powell  faid  that  if  he  had 
the  Boy  in  his  Cuftody  he  could  put  a  Stop  to 
the  Trouble;  and  to  teft  the  Truth  of  what  he 
faid,  Confent  was  given,  though  reluctantly,  and 
he  took  away  the  Boy,  and  the  Witch  Operations 
did  actually  ceafe.  Whether  he  had  Connivance 
with  the  Boy  Stiles,  or  failed  to  accomplish  fome 
private  End  he  may  have  had  in  View,  is  not 
known,  but  the  Tragedy  of  the  dancing  of  Pots 
and  Kettles,  bowing  of  Chairs,  &c,  was  refumed 
with  more  Vigour  than  ever.  Whereupon  it  was 
affumed  that  the  faid  Powell  was  himfelf  the 
Witch,  was  profecuted  and  in  much  Danger  of 


1679  in  New  England.  14.3 

fufFering  for  the  Part  he  had  volunteered  to  take. 
Morfe  was  his  Profecutor.  By  what  Means  he 
became  fo  is  not  known,  and  was  bound  to  ap- 
pear at  the  Court  in  Ipfwich  to  make  good  his 
Charges  againft  Powell.  There  are  fome  fcraps 
of  Teftimony  in  Coffin's  Hijiory  of  Newbury,1  and 
the  Decifion  of  the  Court,  which,  being  very 
extraordinary,  is  here  reproduced :  "  Upon 
hearing  the  Complaint  againft  Caleb  Powell  for 
Sufpicion  of  working  by  the  Devill,  to  the  mo- 
lefting  of  the  Family  of  William  Morfe  of  New- 
bury, though  this  Court  cannot  find  any  evident 
Ground  of  proceeding  farther  againft  the  faid 
Powell,  yett  we  determine  that  he  hath  given 
fuch  Ground  of  Sufpicion  of  his  fo  dealing,  that 
we  cannot  fo  acquit  him,  but  that  he  juftly  de- 
ferves,  to  beare  his  owne  Shame  and  the  Cofts  of 
Profecution  of  the  Complaint." 

This  only  adds  another  to  the  ridiculous  De- 
cifions  of  the  early  Courts  to  thofe  already  no- 
ticed. The  Judges  had  put  the  County  to  the 
Expenfe  of  a  Trial,  of  which  they  muft  pay 
their  Proportion,  unlefs  it  could  be  faddled  on 
Somebody,  and  there  was  Nobody  but  the  Perfe- 
cuted  Party  on  whom  it  could  be  laid  with  Im- 
punity. 

The  Teftimony  given  in  by  Mr.  Morfe,  before 
Sufpicion  lighted  on  Powell,  is  as  aftonifhing  as 
any  of  the  Details  of  Witch  Tranfactions  given 
by  Cotton  Mather.     So  extraordinary  is  his  Tef- 

1  The    Reader    fhould    bear    in     Work  is  feparated  and  mifplaced, 
Mind  that  the  Teftimony  in  that     but  all  between  Pages  122  and  135. 


14-4-  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1679 

timony,  that  one,  on  reading  it,  cannot  efcape 
the  Concluiion  that  fome  ftrange  Compofition 
muft  have  occupied  the  Place  in  his  Head  de- 
figned  for  Brains. 

It  appears  that  about  the  Time  Powell  was 
fixed  upon  as  the  one  "working  by  the  Devill," 
it  began  to  be  whifpered  about  that  Mrs.  Morfe 
was  the  Witch;  and  ho  fooner  was  Powell 
acquitted  than  the  Clamour  againft  her  began 
openly  to  be  made,  and  on  the  7th  of  January 
following  Commiffioner  Woodbridge  commenced 
taking  Evidence  in  the  Cafe,  all  of  which  will 
be  found  in  the  Appendix.  It  has,  as  will  be 
feen  by  a  Perufal,  the  ufual  Character  of  fuch 
Teftimony,  altogether  too  childifh  to  be  worthy 
of  Prefervation,  did  it  not  (how  the  Character  of 
the  People  of  the  Age,  and  how  much  Improve- 
ment has  been  fince  made  in  all  that  is  effential 
to  the  Happinefs  of  a  People. 

A  great  many  WitnefTes  were  fummoned  to 
appear  at  the  May  Seffion  of  the  Court  in  Bofton ; 
many  did  appear  in  Perfon,  fome  walking  on 
Foot  the  whole  Diftance.  The  poor  Accufed 
(then  about  65  Years  of  Age)  was  taken  from 
Ipfwich  Jail,  where  me  had  been  for  fome  Time 
kept,  and  on  the  20th  of  May  conveyed  to  Bof- 
ton,  by  the  Conftable,  Thomas  Knowlton,  who 
queftioned  her  on  the  Way  about  her  Cafe.  She 
faid,  among  other  Things,  "{he  was  accufed 
about  Witchcraft,  but  that  fhe  was  as  clear  of  it 
as  God  in  Heaven. " 

Fortunately  perhaps  for  the  Accufed,   Simon 


1679  *n  New  England.  <       14.5 

Bradftreet  was  rechofen  Governor ;  among  the 
other  Officers  compofing  the  General  Court  were 
Thomas  Danforth,  Deputy  Governor,  Richard 
Saltonftall,  Daniel  Gookin,  Daniel  Denifon,  John 
Pynchon,  Edward  Tyng,  William  Stoughton, 
Jofeph  Dudley,  Peter  Bulkley,  NatW  Saltonftall, 
Humphrey  Davy,  James  Ruffell,  Samuel  Nowell, 
Peter  Tilton,  John  Richards,  John  Hull,  Bar- 
tholomew Gedney,  Tho.  Savage,  Wm.  Browne. 

The  Trial  was  before  the  Affiftants,  but  no 
Record  of  it  appears  in  the  Journals,  but  fortu- 
nately there  is  found  a  Lift  of  the  Jury.1  A 
Copy  of  the  Indictment  is  printed  in  Coffin's  New- 
bury, and  is  in  the  ufual  Form  —  "inftigated  by 
and  Familiarity  with  the  Devil."  Argument  on 
the  Part  of  the  Prifoner  there  was  none,  and  the 
Jury  brought  her  in  "guilty,  according  to  the 
Indictment."  Whereupon  the  Governour  could 
do  no  lefs  than  pronounce  Judgment,  which  was 
performed  on  the  27th  of  May,  after  the  Lecture. 
She  was  to  be  "hanged  by  the  Neck  till  fhe  was 
dead." 

Whether  a  Queftion  of  Law  came  up  from 
fome  Quarter,  or  whether  the  Governour  or  fome 
of  the  Affiftants  had  Doubts  in  the  Matter,  does 
not  appear;  but  in  the  Courfe  of  the  Trial  the 

1  Derived  from  the  Documents  wood,  of  Bofton  ;  John  Stone,  and 

in  the  Appendix.     They  were  Mr.  Richard    Child,    of    Watertown  ; 

Nathan    Heyman,    and    Mr.   John  Bro.    John    Green,    and    Richard 

Knight,     of     Charleflown  ;     Mr.  Robins,     of    Cambridge  ;     Jacob 

Richard  Middlecott,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Huen,   and  John  Capen,  of  Dor- 

Cufhin,  Mr.  John  Wait,  Lt.  Rich-  chefter.      The    Spelling   of  thefe 

ard  Waye,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Har-  Names  is  given  as  in  the  Originals. 

T 


146     \     Annals  of  Witchcraft  1679 

following  Queftion  was  before  the  Court: 
"Whether  feuerall  diftindt  fingle  teftimonyes  of 
preternaturall  and  Diabolicall  Actions  by  the 
prifoner  at  the  barr,  though  not  any  two  con- 
curring to  proue  the  fame  indiuiduall  Acl:  is  to 
be  accounted  Legall  evidence  to  Convict  of 
Witchcraft.  This  was  Refolued  on  the  affirma- 
tive by  ye  Court.  22  of  May,  1680,  as  Attefts 
Edward  Rawson,  Secret."  ■ 

There  feems  to  have  been  no  DifTent  on  the 
Part  of  any  one,  and  why  the  Time  for  the  Ex- 
ecution was  not  fixed,  muft  for  the  Prefent,  at 
leaft,  remain  unexplained.  It  has  been  affumed 
by  Coffin  and  later  Writers,  that  the  Life  of  Mrs. 
Morfe  was  fpared  through  the  Backwardnefs  of 
Governour  Bradftreet  to  proceed  in  carrying  out 
his  own  Sentence.  It  may  have  been  fo,  but 
Evidence  is  wanting  to  fully  warrant  the  Sur- 
mife.  If  he  had  any  Scruples  why  did  he  fo 
promptly  pronounce  the  Sentence  of  Death? 
However  this  might  have  been,  before  the  Ad- 
journment of  the  Court,  namely,  on  June  ift, 
but  three  Days  after  Sentence  was  paffed,  "the 
Governour  and  Magiftrates  voted  the  reprieving" 
of  Mrs.  Morfe  till  the  October  Seffion  of  the 
Court.  But  Nothing  is  heard  of  the  Cafe  in 
October.  On  the  3d  of  November,  however, 
the  Deputies  fent  up  an  Inquiry,  defiring  to  know 
"why  Execution  of  the  Sentence"  had  not  been 
carried  into  Effect?     It  is  evident  that  no  incon- 

1  All  in   the   Autograph  of  the     and  Capitalization.     So  in  all  other 
Secretary,  as  well  as  Orthography     Extracts. 


1679  in  New  England.  14.7 

fiderable  Movement  had  been  Somewhere  made 
(though  but  its  Shadow  is  vifible)  to  ftay  Pro- 
ceedings, for  the  Deputies  clamoured  againft  a 
"fecond  Repreeval,"  as  beyond  what  the  Law 
will  allow.  Still  the  Magiftrates  held  out  and 
would  not  give  their  Confent  to  have  the  Prifoner 
executed.  And,  bad  as  Circumftances  appeared 
againft  her,  fome  Humanity  was  maintained  by 
a  Portion  of  the  Officials.  It  would  feem  like 
the  laft  Stages  of  Depravity,  had  not  Documents 
like  the  following  had  fome  EfFecT:  upon  them : 

"To  the  Honrble  Govr  and  Council  now  fit- 
ting in  Bofton,  June  4th,  1680.  The  Petition 
of  William  Mofs.  Humbly  fheweth,  That  whereas 
his  deare  Wife  was  by  the  Jury  found  Guilty  of 
Witchcraft,  and  by  the  honble  Court  Condemned 
to  dye:  Yet  fince  God  hath  beene  pleafed  to 
move  yor  Honors  Harts,  to  grant  her  a  Reprieve 
until  October  next,  yor  Petitior  humbly  prayes 
that  yor  Honors  be  pleafed  to  Ihew  her  fo  much 
Pitty  as  to  grant  her  Liberty,  in  the  Day  Time 
to  walke  in  the  Prifon  Yard,  and  to  ye  Prifon 
Houfe,  and  that  in  the  Night  Shee  may  have 
Priviledge  of  a  Chamber  in  the  Common  Goale, 
and  be  freed  from  the  Dungeon  wch  is  Extreame 
Clofe  and  hott  in  this  Seafon,  and  alfo  Liberty  on 
the  Sabboth  to  goe  to  Meeting;  he  and  his 
Children  giveing  Security  for  her  fafe  Imprifon- 
ment.  So  fhall  he  be  ever  Obliged  to  pray  as  in 
Duty  bound.  Wm.  MoossE.,, 

How  far  this   Petition  was  liftened  to  is  not 
known;  nor  is  it  known  how  it  happened  to  be 


148  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1679 

in  the  Hand  Writing  of  Ifaac  Addington  (ex- 
cepting the  Signature),  a  Circumftance  which 
may  reafonably  lead  the  Reader  to  infer  that  that 
worthy  Man  rendered  what  Service  he  could  in 
Favour  of  the  Prifoner. 

We  meet  with  Nothing  farther  in  the  Records 
relative  to  the  Cafe  of  Mrs.  Morfe  till  the  next 
Year,  when  by  another  Petition  from  her  Huf- 
band,  dated  on  the  14th  of  May  (1681)  it  ap- 
pears fhe  was  ftill  in  Prifon  in  Bofton.  The 
Petition  here  mentioned  is  elaborately  drawn  up, 
and  is  an  Argument  to  explain  away  the  Evidence 
of  certain  Perfons  who  had  teftified  againft  his 
Wife.  But  Arguments  were  of  fmall  Avail  when 
it  was  contended  that  the  Devil  might  have  infti- 
gated  them.  The  Petition  may  be  feen  entire  in 
the  Hi/lory  of  Newbury \  and  applies  to  the  Tefti- 
monies  given  in  our  Appendix.1 

On  the  1 8th  of  the  fame  Month  Mr.  Morfe 
again  Petitioned  the  Governour  and  Magiftrates 
"in  Behalf  of  his  Wife,"  begging  them  "to 
hearken  to  the  Cry  of  your  poor  Prifoner,  who 
am  a  condemned  Perfon,"  having  "  pleaded  not 
guilty,  and  by  the  Mercy  of  God  and  the  Good- 
nefs  of  the  honored  Governor,  I  am  reprieued 
and  brought  to  this  honored  Court,  praying  your 
Juftis.  I  do  not  underftand  Law,  and  know  not 
how  to  prefent  my  Cafe,  but  humbly  beg  that 
my  Requeft   may  not  be   rejected,   it   being  no 

1  Thefe  were  unknown  to  the  excellent  Hiftorian  of  Newbury. 


1679  *n  New  England.  14.9 

more  but  your  Sentence  upon  my  Trial  whether 
I  fhall  live  or  dy." 

Six  Days  later  the  Deputies  had  fo  far  over- 
come their  Defire  to  have  the  Prifoner  executed, 
that  they  voted  to  grant  her  a  new  Trial,  but  the 
Magiflrates  would  not  confent  to  it;  and  it  feems 
that  after  her  fecond  Reprieve,  her  Family  was 
allowed  to  take  her  Home,  and  although  fhe  was 
never  relieved  from  the  Sentence  of  the  Court, 
it  does  not  appear  that  fhe  was  further  molefted, 
and  finally  clofed  her  Life  at  Home  and  in  Peace, 
but  at  what  time  is  not  afcertained.  The  Huf- 
band  furvived  the  haraffing  period  of  his  Wife's 
Perfecutions,  about  two  Years,  dying  November 
29th,  1683,  aged  69,  according  to  Coffin,  but 
according  to  the  more  recent  Invefligations  of  a 
Genealogift,1  he  was  76 ;  the  latter  Account 
feeming  more  Probable. 

A  View  of  the  old  Houfe  in  which  the  Morfe 
Family  lived,  is  given  in  the  Hiftory  of  Newbury. 
The  Time  of  Erection  has  not  been  found, 
though  the  Lot  on  which  it  was  built  was  granted 
to  William  Morfe  in  1645.  A  Part,  if  not  the 
whole  Houfe,  was  built  foon  after  the  Lot  was 
granted.  It  ftands  at  the  Corner  of  Market 
Street,  oppofite  St.  Paul's  Church.2 

That  Mifs  Gould  had  this  old  Houfe  in  her 
Mind,  and  the  Traditions  of  the  Days  when  Mrs. 
Morfe  was  reputed  a  Witch,  when  fhe  wrote  the 

1  The  Rev.  Abner  Morfe,  in  his     1850.   -  8  vo. 
Memorial  of  the   Morfes,  Bofton,         2  See  Coffin,  1 34. 


150  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1680 

following  Lines,  will  fcarcely  be  doubted.1      She 
thus  reprefents  her  Vifit  to  a  Fortune-teller : 

"  When  I  came  near  the  Hut  I  began  to  relent, 
And  how,  though  I'd  run,  till  my  Breath  was  nigh  fpent ! 
For  Nightfhade  and  Hemlock  grew  under  the  Eaves, 
And  feemed  to  have  '  Sorcery '  writ  on  their  leaves. 
When  the  feathery  Group  gave  their  ominous  fliout, 
I  thought  of  the  Chicks  Mother  Carey  fent  out ! 
Then  there  lay  old  Growler  at  Length  on  the  Floor, 
And  looked  like  the  Wicked  One  keeping  the  Door  ; 
With  Eyes  femi-clofed,  as  inclining  to  Sleep, 
But  ope'd  now  and  then  for  an  impious  Peep ; 
And  even  the  Puff,  as  (he  dozed  on  the  Hearth, 
I  thought  had  a  Spice  of  the  Witch  from  her  Birth." 

1680. 

While  Witchcraft  was  flourifhing  in  Newbury, 
a  moft  exciting  Cafe  of  it  broke  forth  in  Hamp- 
ton, in  1680.  Rachel,  the  Wife  of  John  Fuller, 
of  that  Town,  was  charged  with  caufing  the  Death 
of  a  Child  by  the  Practice  of  Sorcery.  A  Jury  of 
twelve  Men  was  impanneled  to  inveftigate  the 
Charge,  and  the  Refult  as  recorded  is  briefly  as 
follows : 

The  Jurors  fay,  "being  called  by  Authority  to 
view  a  dead  Child  of  John  Godfres,  being  about 
a  Year  old,  which  was  fufpefted  to  be  murdered, 
we  find  Grounds  of  Sufpicion  that  the  faid  Child 
was  murdered  by  Witchcraft:  firft,  in  Part  by 
what  we  faw  by  the  dead  Corpfe;  fecond,  Some- 
thing we  perceived  by  the  Party  fufpected,  which 

1  Madam    Hooper    was    nearly     her  Lines  may  have   Reference  to 
Cotemporary  with  Mifs  Gould,  and     her,  as  more  applicable. 


1680  in  New  England.  151 

was  then  prefent,  and  was  examined  by  Au- 
thority ;  and  third,  by  what  was  faid  by  the  Wit- 
nefs." 

The  Names  of  the  Jury  were:  "Henry 
Roby,  forman;  Tho.  Marfton,  Willyam  Mar- 
fton,  Abraham  Drake,  Abraham  Perkins,  An- 
thony Taylor,  John  Smith,  Tho.  Levet,  Aratus 
Levet,  Gerihom  Elkins,  Henry  Derbond,  and 
John  Sanborne. 

"This  true  Lift  was  given  in  upon  Oath,  the 
13th  of  July,  1680,  before  me, 

"Samuel  Dalton,  of  the  Council" 

The  next  Day  John  Fuller,  the  Hufband  of 
the  Accufed,  entered  into  Bonds  of  £100,  for 
her  Appearance  "to  anfwer  to  what  fhall  be 
charged  againft  her  in  Point  of  Witchcraft,,, 
when  called  for.  The  Cognizance  is  thus  under- 
written: "Owned  before  me  14  July,  1680. 
"Christopher  Lux,1 
"Samuel  Dalton,  of  the  Council" 

The  fame  Day  Elizabeth  Denham  and  Mary 
Godfrey  depofed,  "that  we,  being  in  Difcourfe 
with  Rachel  Fuller,  fhe  told  us  how  thofe  that 
were  Witches  did  fo  go  abroad  at  Night;  they 

1  There  was  a  Family  of  this  Property  to  go  to  "  Abifhag  Mar- 
Name  living  at  Great  Ifland  (New-  fhall,  my  dau.,  wf.  of  Tho.  Mar- 
caftle)  a  little  later.  "Audrey  fhall,  of  Great  Tfland."  To  Son-in- 
Lux,  of  Portfmouth  on  Great  Ifland,  law,  Adrew  Cranch,  5  Shillings. 
Widow,"  made  her  Will  9  June,  To  dau.  Abifhag  Marfhall,  all  my 
1688  ;  mentions  Grand  Children,  Houfes'  Lands,  Wharues  and  Or- 
John  and  Elizabeth  Cranch,  Child-  chards.  WitnefTes,  Geo.  Pearfon, 
ren  of  Andrew  Cranch,  of  Great  Jas.  Booth,  Geo.  Payne,  Proved, 
Ifland;  faid  Children  not  then  21.  18  March,  1692-3.  Lux  is  not 
If  they  died  before   21,  then  the  found  in  the  N.  Eng.  Gen.  DiSl. 


152  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1680 

did  lay  their  Hufbands  and  Children  afleep ;  and 
fhe  faid  Rachel  Fuller  told  us  of  feveral  Perfons 
that  fhe  reckoned  for  Witches  and  Wizzards  in 
this  Town,  to  the  number  of  feven  or  eight. 
She  faid  eight  Women  and  two  Men  ;  fome  of 
whom  me  expreffed  by  name,  as  Eunice  Cole, 
Benjamin  Evans  Wife  and  her  Daughters,  Good- 
wife  Coulter  and  her  Daughter  Prefcott,  and 
Goodwife  Towle,  and  one  that  is  now  dead." 

"Nathaniel  Smith,  aged  about  twenty  Years, 
faith,  that  going  to  the  Houfe  of  John  Fuller,  as 
he  was  coming  Home  with  his  Herd,  the  faid 
Fuller's  Wife  afked  him  what  was  the  News  in 
the  Town  ?  The  faid  Smith  faid  he  knew  none. 
She  told  him  that  the  other  Night  there  was  a 
great  Route  at  Goodman  Roby's.1  This  was  at 
the  firft  Time  when  Dr.  Reed  was  at  this  Town. 
She  faid  they  had  pulled  Dr.  Reed  out  of  the 
Bed,  and  with  an  enchanted  Bridle  did  intend  to 
lead  a  Jaunt;  and  he  got  her  by  the  Coat,  but 
could  not  hold  her.  I  afked  her  who  it  was? 
and  fhe  turned  from  me,  and  as  I  thought  did 
laugh.2  Sworn  the  14th  of  July,  1680,  before  me, 
"Samuel  Daltion,  of  the  Council." 

Mary,  the  Wife  of  John  Godfrey,  and  Sarah 
her  Daughter,  aged  about  16  Years,  gave  Tefli- 
monies  too  loathfome  for  Recital.  They  fpeak 
of  a  Circumftance  which  took  place  "the  fame 

1  This    was     doubtlefs     Henry  He  was  at  Exeter  as  early  as  1638. 

Roby,  a  Juftice  of  the  Court  of  See  Belknap,  Hift.  N.  Hampjbire. 
Seffions.     He  was  in  the  Intereft  of 

Cranfield  at  one  Period,  and  gene-  2  No  doubt  fhe  laughed  to  think 

rally    in  fome   Kind    of  Trouble,  he  was  fo  eafily  made  a  fool  of. 


1680  in  New  England.  153 

Day  that  Mr.  BufF  went  through  the  Town, 
about  three  Weeks  or  a  Month  ago."  They 
attempted  fome  Experiments  with  the  Water  of 
the  Child;  and  "by  and  by  Rachel  Fuller  came 
in  and  looked  very  ftrangely;  bending,  daubed 
her  Face  with  MolafTes,  as  fhe  judged  it,  fo  as 
fhe  almoft  daubed  up  one  of  her  Eyes;  and  fhe  fat 
down  by  Goody  Godfrey,  who  had  the  fick  Child 
in  her  Lap,  and  took  the  Child  by  the  Heand, 
and  Goodwife  Godfrey  being  afraid  to  fee  her 
come  in  that  Manner,  put  her  Hand  off  from 
the  Child,  and  wrapped  the  Child's  Hand  in  her 
Apron.  Then  the  faid  Rachel  turned  her  about, 
and  fmote  the  Back  of  her  Hands  together  fundry 
Times,  and  fpat  in  the  fire.  Then,  having  Herbs 
in  her  Hands,  rubbed  and  ftrewed  them  about  the 
Hearth  by  the  Fire.  Then  fhe  fat  down  again, 
and  faid,  Woman,  the  Child  will  be  well.  She 
then  went  behind  the  Houfe.  Mehitable  God- 
frey then  told  her  Mother  that  Goody  Fuller  was 
acting  ftrangely.  Then  Mary  Godfrey  and  Sarah, 
looking  out,  faw  Rachel  Fuller  ftanding  with  her 
Face  towards  the  Houfe,  beating  herfelf  with  her 
Arms,  as  Men  do  to  warm  their  Hands.  This 
fhe  did  three  Times.  Then  gathering  Some- 
thing from  the  Ground,  went  Home.  Sworn 
the  14th  of  July,  1680." 

The  fame  Day,  Mary  Godfrey  further  declared 
that  upon  the  next  Day  after  Rachel  Fuller  had 
been  "at  her  Houfe  with  her  Face  daubed  with 
MolafTes,  the  Children  told  their  Mother  that 
Rachel  had  told  them  that  if  they  did  lay  fweet 
Bays  under  the  Threfhold,  it  would  keep  a  Witch 
U 


i5+  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1680 

from  coming  in.  One  of  the  Girls  faid,  Mother 
I  will  try  it,  and  (he  laid  Bays  under  the  Threshold 
of  the  back  Door,  all  the  Way,  and  half  Way  of 
the  Breadth  of  the  fore  Door;  and  foon  after  Ra- 
chel Fuller  came  to  the  Houfe,  and  (lie  always  had 
formerly  come  in  at  the  back  Door,  which  is  next 
her  Houfe;  but  now  fhe  went  about  to  the  fore 
Door,  and  though  the  Door  flood  open,  yet  fhe 
crowded  in  on  that  Side  where  the  Bays  lay  not, 
and  rubbed  her  Back  againft  the  Poft,  fo  as  that 
fhe  rubbed  off  her  Hat,  and  then  fhe  fat  her  down 
and  made  ugly  Faces,  and  neftled  about,  and  would 
have  looked  on  the  Child,  but  I  not  fuffering  her, 
fhe  went  out  rubbing  againft  the  Poft  of  the  Door 
as  fhe  came  in,  and  beat  off  her  Hat  again ;  and  I 
never  faw  her  in  the  Houfe  fince.  Sworn  the 
14th  of  July,  1680." 

John  Godfrey,  aged  about  48  Years,  and  his 
Wife  about  36  Years,  faid  that  Rachel  Fuller 
came  into  their  Houfe  about  eight  or  nine  o'Clock 
in  the  Day.  Their  Child  was  very  ill,  at  which 
Mrs.  Fuller,  feeing  the  Mother  much  troubled, 
faid  that  "this  would  be  the  worft  Day  with  it. 
To-morrow  it  will  be  well.,,  She  then  "patted 
the  Child's  Hand,  and  took  it  in  hers;  at  which 
the  Mother  fnatched  it  away  and  wrapped  it  in 
her  Apron.  Then  Mrs.  Fuller  rofe  up,  and  turn- 
ing her  Back  to  Mr.  Godfrey,  did  fmite  the  back 
Side  of  her  Hand  together,  and  did  fpit  in  the  Fire. 

"Sworn  before  Samuel  Daltion,  of  the 
Council,  July  14th,  1680,  and  in  the  Court  at 
Hampton,  Sept.  7th,  1680. 

"Elias  Stileman,  Sect" 


1680  in  New  England.  155 

The  Depofition  of  one  Hazen  Levit  clofes  the 
Evidence  againft  Rachel  Fuller,  fo  far  as  Dif- 
covered,  and  the  Proceedings  againft  her  end  with 
that  Depofition.  If  any  further  Action  was  had 
the  Account  of  it  has  not  been  met  with.  It  is 
probable  the  Matter  was  dropped,  as  the  Evidence 
was  too  filly  and  puerile  for  even  thofe  benighted 
Times.  Hazen  Levit  faid  he  was  about  thirty- 
fix  Years  of  Age.  "Riding  up  to  his  Lot  in 
July  laft,  Sun  about  an  Hour  high,  he  faw  John 
Fuller's  Wife  upon  her  Hands  and  Knees,  fcram- 
bling  too  and  fro,  firft  one  Way  and  then  another, 
and  feemed  to  him  to  be  mighty  lazy ;  '  but  after 
fhe  efpied  him  fhe  left  off  that  Manner  of  a&ing, 
and  feemed  to  take  up  her  Apron  with  one  of  her 
Hands,  and  with  the  other  to  gather  up  Some- 
thing." It  feems  fhe  had  a  "little  Child  with 
her,"  and  was  perhaps  gathering  up  fome  Chips. 
While  fhe  was  thus  employed,  fhe  may  have  felt 
annoyed  at  Leavit's  rude  Scrutiny,  for,  he  fays, 
"fhe  gave  him  a  frowning  Look  at  Firft,"  and 
when  he  went  along  "fhe  laughed  on  him." 
After  that  he  faw  "a  Thing  like  a  little  Dog," 
which  came  from  the  Gate  leading  to  her  Houfe 
and  went  to  her  "who  was  ftill  in  the  fame 
Actions"  of  fcrambling  Something  to  put  in  her 
Apron. 

Mrs.  Fuller's  maiden  Name  was  Rachel  Braf- 
bridge.  She  was  married  to  John  Fuller,  March 
19th,  1677,  and  had  fix  or  more  Children.     He 

1  It  could  be  wifhed  he  had  given  feems  to  have  been  the  reverfe  of 
his  Definition  of  this  Word,  as  it     that  as  now  underftood. 


156  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1680 

died  in  17 19.     His  Inventory  fhowing  confidera- 
ble  Eftate  for  the  Time,  about  £460. 

Ifabella  Towle  was  committed  at  the  fame 
Time  on  the  Charge  of  Witchcraft,  but  we  find 
Nothing  further  in  Regard  to  her,  or  how  long 
fhe  and  Mrs.  Fuller  were  imprifoned. 

At  a  fomewhat  later  Day,  the  People  of  Hamp- 
ton gave  pretty  free  Scope  to  their  imaginative 
Powers;  and  what  one  fancied  or  dreamed,  and 
told  to  his  Neighbour  with  an  ominous  Shake  of 
the  Head,  was  by  that  Neighbour  told  to  another 
under  a  full  Belief  that  it  was  true.  Not  far  back 
into  the  laft  Century  there  lived  in  Hampton, 
New  Hampfhire,  a  wealthy  Gentleman,  widely 
known  as  Gen.  Jonathan  Moulton.  He  was  a 
Man  of  great  Energy  and  Enterprife,  and  having 
by  good  Luck,  Shrewdnefs,  or  both,  fecured  a 
large  Eftate  in  a  comparatively  brief  Period,  his 
ignorant  and  fuperftitious  Neighbours  furmifed  he 
had  made  a  League  with  the  Devil,  by  Virtue  of 
which  he  received  all  the  Money  he  wanted. 
Having  met  with  a  Check  in  his  Profperity,  by 
his  Houfe  taking  Fire  and  being  entirely  con- 
fumed,1  the  Report  was  at  once  fpread  Far  and 
Wide,  that  the   Fire  had  been  fet  by  the  Devil 


1  This    was   long    a   memorable  with  their  Lives,  though  with  the 

Event  in  the  Hiftory  of  Hampton.  Lofs  of  moft  of  their  Clothes.     The 

It   occurred  about  four  o'Clock  on  Owner  efcaped  with  his  Cloak  only, 

Wednefday  Morning,  March  15th,  and  a  Gentleman  was  faved  only  by 

1769.      A    large    Manfion    Houfe  jumping  from  a  Chamber  Window, 

and  two  Stores  were  entirely  con-  Colonel   Moulton's   Lofs   was  efti- 

fumed.      Of  fome    18    Perfons  in  mated  at  £3000  Sterling. —  Nezvf- 

the  Houfe  at  the  Time,  all  efcaped  papers  of  the  Day. 


1680  in  New  England.  157 

becaufe  the  General  had  cheated  him  in  a  Bar- 
gain !  No  one  feemed  to  know  what  the  Bargain 
was,  but  on  this  or  fome  other  Occafion  it  was 
averred  that  he  cheated  the  Devil,  not  exactly  out 
of  his  Boots,  but  out  of  Boots  full  of  Money. 
The  Facts  have  been  thus  ftated:  The  Devil 
was  to  have  the  General's  Soul,  after  a  certain 
Number, of  Years;  in  Confideration  of  which,  at 
ftated  Periods  he  was  to  fill  the  General's  Boot 
with  Gold  and  Silver,  the  Boot  being  hung  up  in 
the  Chimney  for  that  Purpofe.  Whether  a  Boot- 
full  at  a  Time  was  not  fufficient  to  meet  his  De- 
mands for  Money,  is  not  ftated;  but  on  a  Time 
when  his  Majefty  came  to  fill  the  Boot,  he  found 
it  took  a  Quantity  fo  vaft  that  he  defcended  into 
the  Chimney  to  fee  what  the  Matter  was,  and  to 
his  furprife  he  found  that  the  General  had  cut  off 
the  Foot  of  the  Boot!  and  the  Room  below 
was  fo  full  of  Money  that  he  could  not  proceed 
to  the  Door,  and  was  compelled  to  go  back  up 
Chimney  again. 

When  the  General  died  (which  was  in  the 
Year  1788)  and  was  put  into  a  Coffin,  his  Body 
was  miffing  immediately  afterward.  Whereupon 
all  the  knowing  ones  hinted  that "  the  Devil  had 
got  his  own  at  laft." 

There  were  People  within  the  Remembrance 
of  the  Writer  who  would  tell  the  above,  and 
other  equally  credible  Stories  refpedting  the  Ope- 
rations of  the  Devil  "in  the  Money  Market." 


158  Annals  of  Witchcraft  168 1 

168-1. 

Plymouth  Colony  had  a  Vifitation  of  "  Devil- 
ifm,,  again  in  the  Year  1681.  The  Tranfactions 
about  to  be  related  have  not  been  claffed  hitherto 
among  the  Exploits  of  Witches,  yet  they  clearly 
belong  to  them.  "One  Jonathan  Dunen  drew 
away  the  Wife  of  a  Man  to  Marfhfield,  to  follow 
him,  and  one  Mary  Rofs  falling  into  their  Com- 
pany, prefently  was  poffeffed  with  as  frantick  a 
Daemon  as  ever  was  heard  of;  fhe  burnt  her 
Cloathes;  fhe  faid  me  was  Chrift;  fhe  gave 
Names  to  the  Gang  with  her,  as  Apoftles,  calling 
one  Peter,  another  Thomas ;  fhe  declared  that 
fhe  would  be  dead  for  three  Days,  and  then  rife 
again,  and  accordingly  fhe  feemed  then  to  die. 
Dunen  then  gave  out  that  they  fhould  fee  glori- 
ous Things  when  fhe  rofe  again;  but  what  fhe 
then  did  was  thus :  Upon  her  Order  Dunen  fa- 
crificed  a  Dog.  The  Men  and  the  two  Women 
then  danced  naked  together;  for  which,  when 
the  Conflable  carried  them  to  the  Magiftrates, 
Rofs  uttered  ftupendous  Blafphemies,  but  Dunen 
lay  for  Dead  an  Hour  on  the  Floor,  faying,  when 
he  came  to  himfelf,  that  Mary  Rofs  bid  him,  and 
he  could  not  refift." 

This  Dunen,  it  appears,  was  a  Difciple  of 
Thomas  Cafe,  who  had  "  bewitched "  certain 
Quakers,  detached  them  from  that  Seel:,  and  were 
known  as  Cafe's  Crew.  Thefe  were  eftablifhed 
at  Southold  on  Long  Ifland.  From  this  Com- 
pany Dunen  found  his  Way  into  the  Old  Colony 


1 68 1  in  New  England.  159 

and  commenced  working  Miracles,  but  his  Ca- 
rreer was  cut  fhort  in  the  Manner  juft  defcribed.1 

1682. 

Had  there  been  a  Chronicler  in  all  of  the  New 
England  Towns  in  the  early  Times  of  New 
England,  and  he  had  diligently  recorded  all  of 
the  Mifchief  that  was  laid  to  the  Charge  of  the 
Devil,  "the  World  would  hardly  have  contained 
the  Books,"  unlefs  the  People  had  been  aided  by 
the  fame  Jugglery  that  caufed  them. 

There  were  no  lefs  than  "  three  Houfes  in  three 
feveral  Towns/'  in  a  ufually  quiet  Part  of  New 
England,  befet  this  Year  by  Evil  Spirits.  But  the 
diabolical  Manoeuvres  at  only  one  of  the  Houfes 
are  preferved,  fo  far  as  is  known  to  the  Writer, 
the  Preamble  to  which  runs  thus:  "A  brief 
Narrative  of  fundry  Apparitions  of  Satan  unto, 
and  AfTaults  at  fundry  Times  and  Places  upon,  the 
Perfon  of  Mary,  the  Wife  of  Antonio  Hortado, 
dwelling  near  the  Salmon  Falls.  Taken  from 
her  own  Mouth,  Auguft  13th,  1683." 

Satan  began  his  Game  in  the  Month  of  June, 
1682,  by  a  Vifit  to  the  Door  of  Antonio's  Houfe, 
and  hooting  out  the  Queftion  to  his  Wife,  "  What 
do  you  here?"  About  an  Hour  later,  as  Mary 
was  {landing  in  the  Door,  fhe  received  a  Pelt  on 
her  Eye  "that  fettled  her  Head  near  to  the  Door 
Poft."     Two    or    three    Days    later,   a   Stone   of 

1  From  a  Work  figned   "  Anti-     in  1742,  fmall  8vo.,  p.  84-86.    Said 
Entbujiajlicus"  printed  in  Bofton,     to  be  by  Dr.  C.  Chauncy. 


160  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1682 

about  an  half  a  Pound's  Weight  was  thrown 
"along  the  Houfe  within  into  the  Chimney;  and 
going  to  take  it  up  it  was  gone.  All  the  Family 
was  in  the  Houfe,  and  no  Hand  appearing  which 
might  be  inftrumental  in  throwing  the  Stone." 
Soon  after,  a  Frying-pan,  then  hanging  in  the 
Chimney,  was  heard  to  ring  fo  loud  that  it  was  heard 
away  acrofs  the  River,  a  Diftance  of  a  hundred  Rods 
or  more.  Upon  this  Mary  and  her  Hufband  em- 
barked in  a  Canoe  and  croffed  over  the  faid  River ; 
and  as  they  went  they  faw  juft  forward  of  them 
in  the  River,  a  Man's  Head  fhaven,  and  two  or 
three  Feet  behind  it,  the  Tail  of  a  white  Cat, 
but  they  could  fee  no  Body  by  which  the  Head 
and  Tail  were  connected.  After  an  Hour  or  fo 
they  returned,  and  this  Time  the  marvelous  bald 
head  and  white  Tail  followed  the  Canoe,  but 
when  it  reached  the  Shore  they  vanifhed  and  were 
feen  no  more. 

Whether  before  or  after  the  Voyage  juft  men- 
tioned, is  not  ftated,  nor  is  it  material,  "Mary, 
being  in  the  Yard  by  her  Houfe,  in  attempting  to 
go  into  the  Houfe,  was  bitten  on  both  Arms 
black  and  blue;  the  Impreffions  of  the  Teeth 
being  like  Men's  Teeth  were  plainly  feen  by 
many." 

Here  was  a  Cafe  fimilar  to  that  of  Hudibras, 
when  Ralpho  counterfeited  the  Ghoft: 

<CI  do  believe  thee  quoth  the  Knight ; 
Thus  far  I'm  fure  thou'rt  in  the  Right, 
And  know  what  'tis  that  troubles  thee, 
Better  than  thou  haft  guefled  of  me. 


1 682  in  New  England.  161 

Thou  art  fome  paltry,  blackguard  Sprite, 
Condemned  to  Drudgery  in  the  Night ; 
Thou  haft  no  Work  to  do  in  th*  Houfe, 
Nor  Half-penny  to  drop  in  Shoes  ; 
Without  the  receiving  of  which  Sum 
You  dare  not  be  fo  troublefome ; 
To  pinch  the  Slatterns  black  and  blue, 
For  leaving  you  their  Work  to  do." 

Mary  was  not  only  bitten  but  fcratched  on  her 
Breaft,  when  the  Devil  caught  her  making  for 
the  Houfe  as  juft  related.     So  fhe  and  her  Huf- 
band    concluded    to    abandon    their    Dwelling. 
They  did  fo,  and  croffed  the  River,  and  fojourned 
for  a  Time  with  a  Neighbour.     They  had  not 
been  long  there   before  a   Woman  appeared   to 
Mary,  "clothed  with  a  green  Safeguard,  a  fhort 
blue  Cloak  and  white  Cap,"  brandifhing  a  Fire- 
brand, as  though  (he  intended  to  ftrike  her  with 
it,  but  did  not  do  fo.     The  next  Day  the  Shape 
came  again.      Now  fhe  had   on   a  gray   Gown, 
white   Apron,   and   a   white   Head    Drefs.      She 
laughed  feveral   Times,   but    no    one   heard  any 
Voice.     This  we  are  told  was  the  End  of  Mary's 
"fatanical  Moleftations."     Not  fo  with  Antonio; 
for   on   returning    to    his    Houfe    the    following 
March,  he  heard  the  Noife  of  a  Man  walking  in 
the  Chamber  over  his  Head,  and  faw  the  Boards 
" buckle"   under  his  Feet;  yet  no  one  could  be 
feen  there,  "for  they  went  on  Purpofe  to  look." 
So  they  went  again  to  relide  on  the  other  Side  of 
the  River,  but  Antonio  carried  on  his  Planting  as 
ufual,  notwithftanding  the  Devil  made  Spoil  upon 
him  in  divers  Ways.     One  Time  he  pulled  down 
V 


1 62  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1682 

"five  Rods  of  good  Log-fence,"  and  the  Tracks 
of  Cattle  were  feen  between  nearly  every  Row  of 
Corn,  yet  the  Corn  was  untouched,  not  even  the 
Leaves  cropt.  Hence  the  Conclufion  may  not 
be  unreafonable,  that  the  Devil  was  not  fond  of 
Corn. 

The  Narrator  faid  he  was  further  informed, 
that  Mary,  by  Advice  of  fome,  "who  fhould  have 
been  wifer,"  ftuck  her  Houfe  round  with  Bayes 
to  keep  off  the  Evil  Spirits,  and  that  they  had 
the  defired  Effect ;  but  as  foon  as  thefe  began  to 
wither,  they  were  all  carried  away  by  an  unfeen 
Hand,  and  her  Troubles  returned  as  before. 

The  People  of  Portfmouth,  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, were  again  difturbed  in  1682.  So  far  as 
any  Record  is  found  to  the  Contrary,  they  had 
had  no  ferious  Annoyance  from  the  Invifible 
World  for  about  a  Quarter  of  a  Century.  But 
"on  June  nth,  being  the  Lord's  Day,  at  Night, 
Showers  of  Stones  were  thrown  both  againft  the 
Sides  and  Roof  of  the  Houfe  of  George  Walton; 
fome  of  the  People  went  abroad,  and  found  the 
Gate  at  fome  Diftance  from  the  Houfe,  wrung 
off  the  Hinges,  and  Stones  came  thick  about 
them;"  and  although  they  feemed  to  come  with 
great  Force,  hitting  Perfons,  yet  they  hurt  no 
one.  The  Object  which  the  Witches  had  in  this 
Management  of  the  Stones  feemed  to  puzzle  Peo- 
ple. But  Matters  foon  grew  more  ferious. 
Stones  began  to  fly  about  the  Rooms  within 
Doors;  the  Glafs  in  the  Windows  was  mattered  to 
Pieces,  and  the  leaden  Safhes  were  bent  outward, 


1 68  2  in  New  England.  163 

the  Stones  being  thrown  from  within.  "While 
the  Secretary  was  walking  in  the  Room,  a  great 
Hammer  came  brufhing  along  againft  the  Cham- 
ber Floor  that  was  over  his  Head,  and  fell  down  by 
him,  and  a  Candleftick  was  beaten  off  the  Table." 
Nine  of  the  Stones  were  gathered  up  and  Marks 
put  upon  them,  fome  of  which  were  as  hot  as  if 
they  came  out  of  the  Fire ;  and  being  laid  upon 
the  Table,  were  foon  found  to  be  flying  about 
again.  Thus  for  four  Hours  the  Mifcreants  kept 
up  the  Shower  of  Stones  that  Night.  The  Se- 
cretary was  not  fo  frightened  but  that  he  went 
to  Bed,  but  a  Stone  came  and  fmafhed  through 
his  Chamber  Door.  Then  came  a  Brick-bat 
"on  the  like  Errand."  And  notwithftanding 
Mr.  Walton  (hut  the  Stone  up  in  his  Room  and 
locked  it  in,  it  rufhed  out  "with  a  great  Noife 
into  the  next  Chamber."  The  Spit  ran  or  flew 
up  Chimney,  and  when  it  came  down  it  came 
Point  firft,  like  a  Dart,  and  ftuck  in  the  back 
Log.  Immediately  after  it  was  fent  out  of  the 
Window  by  an  unfeen  Hand.  "This  Trade  was 
driven"  feveral  Days,  but  with  fome  Intermiflions. 
It  was  remarked  that  the  Stones  came  thickeft 
where  the  Matter  of  the  Houfe  was.  On  one 
Occafion  a  black  Cat  was  feen  while  the  Stones 
were  falling,  and  was  fhot  at;  but  the  unfeen 
Hand  that  could  prevent  the  Stones  from  hurting 
People,  could  prevent  Bullets  from  Hurting  Pufs, 
and  fhe  efcaped  unharmed.  On  another  Time 
fome  of  the  Family  "  faw  the  Appearance  of  a 
Hand  put  forth  at  the  Hall  Window,  throwing 


164  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1682 

Stones  towards  the  Entry/'  yet  there  was  Nobody 
in  the  Hall  at  the  Time.  Difmal  Howlings  were 
fometimes  heard,  and  the  Trotting  and  Snorting 
of  Horfes,  but  nothing  could  be  feen.  Mr.  Wal- 
ton went  up  the  Great  Bay  in  his  Boat  for  Tim- 
ber, but  Stones  followed  him.  He  carried  a 
Stirrup-iron  to  his  Boat  and  left  it  there,  but  when 
he  left  it  to  return  to  the  Houfe,  it  "came 
jingling  after  him  through  the  Woods."  His 
Anchor  leaped  overboard  without  Hands  and 
flopped  the  Boat  as  he  was  endeavouring  to  re- 
turn Home.1  When  he  had  mown  fome  Grafs 
and  left  it  in  Cocks,  on  going  into  the  Field  again 
the  Cocks  of  Hay  were  found  hanging  on  Trees. 
Thefe  are  only  a  few  of  the  many  Pranks 
which  a  Demon  played  off  on  Secretary  Walton. 
He  was  "forely  hurt"  in  fome  of  them.  The 
Account  was  written  in  Auguft  of  this  Year 
(1682),  at  which  Time  it  was  reported  that 
"during  the  laft  Winter"  the  Devil  was  tolerably 
quiet,  but  on  the  Return  of  Spring  he  paid  Mr. 
Walton  a  Vifit,  not  in  Perfon  probably,  and 
managed  to  carry  off  his  Axes,  notwithstanding 
they  were  under  Lock  and  Key  at  the  Time. 
What  old  Clovenfoot  wanted  of  Axes  no  Con- 
jecture was  made.2 

1  There  is  a  Creek    fome  Mile  Deputies  caufed  the  Death  of  two 
and  a  half  from  the  former  "  State  Cows    at     that    Creek     eighty-two 
Houfe,"  in  Portfmouth,  known  as  Years  after  that  Voyage,  by  Light- 
late    as     1769,     as    Witch    Creek,  ning. 
Whether  it  took  its  Name  from  the 

Incidents   of  Walton's    Voyage,   I  2  Since  the  Text  was  written  my 

am  unable  to  fay  ;  but  in  the  Be-  Attention  has  been  called  by  a  lite- 

lief  of  thofe  Days,  the  Devil  or  his  rary  Friend  to  a  new  Volume  of 


1683  in  New  England.  165 

No  Reafons  are  fuggefted  why  Mr.  Walton  was 
fingled  out  to  be  tormented.  He  was  a  refpedta- 
ble  Gentleman  for  Anything  that  is  known  to  the 
Contrary.  His  Son  Shadrach  was  a  Man  of  Dif- 
tindtion,  and  ferved  as  a  Colonel  in  the  Indian 
Wars;  at  one  Period  with  the  redoubtable  Col. 
Benjamin  Church.1  He  was  a  Quaker,  and  it 
was  faid  that  he  fufpected  a  certain  Woman  did 
by  Witchcraft  occafion  the  above  preternatural 
Occurrences.* 

1683. 

Almoft  a  Cafe  of  Witchcraft  happened  in 
Southampton,  on  Long  Ifland,  "about  1683." 
One  Thomas  Travally  entered  a  Complaint 
againft  Edward  Lacy,  in  that  the  faid  Lacy 
charged  his,  the  faid  Travally 's  Wife  with  being 
a  Witch;  and  that  he  himfelf  had  been  hag- 
ridden three  Nights  by  herJ  The  Action  ap- 
pears to  have  been  withdrawn,  and  the  Bill  of 
Cofts  was  ordered  to  be  paid  by  the  Defendant. 
Hence  it  would  feem  that  Mrs.  Travally  was  a 
Witch  to  the  amount  of  three  Shillings  and  fix 
Pence,  that  being  the  Amount  of  Cofts. 

Hiftorical    Collections,    in    which  l  See    Church's    Indian     Wars, 

there  is  a  Copy  of  a  Letter  from  184-224.     Edit.    1827.     See   alfo 

Jofhua  Moody  to  Increafe  Mather,  Baylies'  New  Plymouth,  IV,  114, 

noticing    this    Cafe  of   Witchcraft.  V,  96.     Edit.  1866. 

Amongft  the  many  learned  Notes 

in  the  Volume,  none  accompanies  2  Magnalia,  VI,  69. 

this  Letter,  although  the  Subftance 

of    the  Narrative    has    been   long  3  Howell's  Hiftory  of  Soutbamp- 

publifhed.  ton,  98. 


1 66  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1683 

In  1683,  a  Demon,  as  was  alleged  by  a  Con- 
temporary, befet  one  Nicholas  Defborough,  of 
Hartford,  in  a  Way  altogether  too  puerile  for 
ferious  Narration,  were  it  not  that  it  affords  a 
Sort  of  Criterion  by  which  to  judge  of  the 
Standard  of  Intelligence  of  our  Anceftors  at  a 
given  Period  in  their  Hiftory. 

It  appears  from  the  Narrator1  of  the  Story, 
that  Nicholas  was  caught  in  the  firft  Place  in  a 
Shower  of  "Stones,  Pieces  of  Earth,  Cobs  of  In- 
dian Corn,  &c,"  all  "falling  upon  and  about 
him ;  which  fometimes  came  in  through  the 
Door,  fometimes  through  the  Window,  fome- 
times down  the  Chimney;  at  other  Times  they 
feemed  to  fall  from  the  Floor  of  the  Chamber, 
which  yet  was  very  clofe;  fometimes  he  met  with 
them  in  his  Shop,  the  Yard,  the  Barn,  and  in  the 
Field  when  at  Work.  In  the  Houfe  fuch  Things 
happened  frequently,  not  only  in  the  Night  but 
in  the  Daytime,  if  Defborough  himfelf  was  at 
Home,  but  never  when  his  Wife  was  at  Home 
alone."  The  Devil  did  not  feem  to  be  very  fu- 
rious in  the  Adminiftration  of  his  Miffiles,  for  it 
is  faid,  that  although  other  Perfons  about  Nicho- 
las were  flruck,  they  were  not  hurt,  from  which 
Circumftance  we  are  to  infer  that  an  invifible 
Hand  fo  reduced  their  Velocity  or  Impetus  that 
they  loft  their  Power  to  injure.  But  on  one 
Occafion  Nicholas  received  a  Blow  on  his  Arm 
which  caufed  it  to  ache  a  little,  and  at  another 

1  Dr.  Increafe  Mather. 


1683  in  New  England.  167 

Time  he  received  "a  Scratch  on  one  of  his  Legs/' 
fo  as  to  draw  Blood.  What  the  Miffile  was  that 
made  the  Scratch,  there  is  no  mention.  "Some 
of  the  Stones  hurled  were  of  confiderable  Bignefs; 
one  weighed  four  Pounds.  One  Time  a  Piece  of 
Clay  came  down  Chimney,  falling  on  the  Table 
which  flood  at  fome  Diftance  from  the  Chimney. 
One  of  the  Family  threw  it  on  the  Hearth,  where 
it  lay  a  confiderable  Time;  but  while  they  were 
at  Supper  the  Piece  of  Clay  was  lifted  up  by  an 
invifible  Hand  and  fell  upon  the  Table,"  and  was 
quite  hot. 

After  Narrating  this  childifh  Story,  as  a  Mar- 
vel, and  as  the  immediate  Work  of  the  Devil, 
the  Relator  informs  us  that  Nicholas  had  had  an 
Altercation  with  a  Neighbour;  that  he  had 
wrongfully  withheld  fome  valuable  perfonal  Pro- 
perty from  that  Neighbour,  and  that  after  he  had 
made  Reftitution  the  Devil  let  him  alone.  The 
honeft  Narrator  never  imagined,  probably,  that 
the  Devil  was  engaged,  for  this  Time  at  leaft,  on 
the  Side  of  Juftice,  and  hence  was  a  very  good 
Sort  of  a  Devil.  But  how  Mr.  Delbrough  viewed 
the  Cafe  we  are  not  informed.  But  from  a  Re- 
cord made  in  1687,1  of  an  Adminiftration  on  his 
Eftate,  and  according  to  Trumbull,  he  was  one 

1  Colonial  Recs.  Conneclicut,  III,  Parliaments,    and  fo  called  Lords. 

241.      Savage   did   not   meet  with  It  may  be  a  Weaknefs  of  ours,  but 

him,    or   overlooked    him    in    his  we  believe  a  Lord  made  by  Crom- 

Eagernefs  to  dilate  on  Maj.  Gen.  well  is  as  much  to  be  regarded  as 

John  Defborough,   which   afforded  though  his  Title  had  come   down 

him  the  Pleafure  of  denouncing  the  from     the     Ufurper    William    the 

Ufurper  Cromwell,   his   nicknamed  Conqueror. 


1 68  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1683 

of  the  firft  Settlers  of  Hartford,  and  died  there 
the  fame  Year  (1683)  in  which  he  had  been  fo 
"molefted  by  an  invifible  Hand,"  and  in  Confe- 
quence  of  thofe  Moleftations. 

A  Cafe  of  Witchcraft  which  came  up  in  Had- 
ley  this  Year,  is  faid  to  be  the  moft  notable  of 
any  that  ever  occurred  in  the  County  of  Hamp- 
fhire.  The  Witch  appeared  in  the  Perfon  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Webfter.  Before  her  Marriage  to 
Mr.  William  Webfter  (he  was  a  Reeve.  .  Thir- 
teen Years  after  they  were  married,  Mary  was 
fuppofed  to  have  made  a  League  with  the  Devil, 
and  could  ride  through  the  Air  on  Broomfticks 
or  without  them. 

It  happened,  as  is  often  the  Cafe  with  other 
Men,  that  William  Webfter  became  very  poor, 
perhaps  lived  unhappily  with  his  Wife.  Poverty 
is  difcouraging,  and  it  is  intimated  that  it  did 
not  improve  the  Temper  of  Mary  Webfter;  and 
it  is  alfo  intimated  me  became  fpiteful,  and  in 
(hort  a  Termigant,  looked  upon  all  thofe  about 
her  as  Enemies,  and  acted  accordingly.  Neigh- 
bours at  laft  folved  the  Myftery  of  Behaviour  by 
declaring  her  a  Witch.  Then  numerous  hitherto 
myfterious  Circumftances  were  explained,  and 
fimple  Occurrences  were  called  to  Mind  and 
magnified  in  the  Brains  of  iome  until  their  Ex- 
planation ended  in  Sorcery.  Cattle  refufed  to 
draw  as  they  approached  her  Houfe,  and  Horfes 
balked,  and  could  not  be  driven  paft  her  Door. 
In  fuch  Cafes  Drivers  would  enter  the  Houfe  and 
beat  her,  or  threaten  to  do  fo,  and  then  fhe  gene- 


1683  in  New  England.  169 

rally  let  them  pafs.  On  one  occafion  me  over- 
turned a  Load  of  Hay  as  it  was  about  to  pafs, 
and  the  Man  in  Charge  of  it  entered  the  Houfe 
to  whip  her,  but  in  the  mean  Time  his  Load  of 
Hay  was  placed  right  Side  up  by  an  invifible 
Hand.  At  another  Time,  by  looking  at  a  Child 
in  a  Cradle  at  a  Neighbour's  Houfe,  me  caufed 
it  to  afcend  to  the  Chamber  Floor  three  fuc- 
ceffive  Times  when  no  vifible  Hands  touched  it. 
Once  a  Hen  came  down  (Somebody's)  Chimney 
and  was  fomewhat  fcalded  in  a  Pot  which  hap- 
pened to  be  over  the  Fire.  It  was  found  that 
Mary  Webfter  was  fuffering  from  a  Scald,  about 
that  Time.  Thefe  are  but  a  fmall  Part  of  the 
Sorceries  attributed  to  her  at  the  Time. 

At  Length,  the  People  not  being  able  to  endure 
fuch  Horrors  any  longer,  brought  Mary  before 
the  Court  at  Northampton,  which  confifted  of 
Col.  John  Pynchon,  of  Springfield  (Son  of  Mr. 
William  Pynchon,  who  officiated  in  the  Cafe  of 
Hugh  Parfons,  in  165 1),  Peter  Tilton  and  Philip 
Smith,1  of  Hadley,  William  Clarke  and  Aaron 
Cooke,  of  Northampton.  Saml.  Partrigg,  of 
Hadley,  being  Clerk.  The  Record  thus  pro- 
ceeds :  "  Mary  Webfter,  of  Hadley,  being  under 
ftrong  Sufpicion  of  having  Familiarity  with  the 
Devil,  or  ufing  Witchcraft,  and  having  been  in 
Examination,  and  many  Teftimonies  brought  in 

1  The  fame,  I  fuppofe,  who  was  Year.     This  correfponds  with  his 

brought  over  from  Ipfwich  to  New  Age  as  dated  by  Dr.  C.  Mather,  as 

England,  in    1634,  by  his  Father,  will  be  feen  prefently.     See  Found- 

Samuel  Smith,  at  the  Age  of  one  ers  of  New  England,  53. 

w 


170  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1683 

againft  her,  or  that  did  feem  to  centre  upon  her, 
relating  to  fuch  a  Thing;  and  the  worfhipful 
Mr.  Tilton  binding  her  to  appear  at  this  Court, 
and  having  examined  her  yet  further,  and  the 
Teftimonies  aforenamed,  look  upon  her  Cafe 
a  Matter  belonging  to  the  Court  of  Affiftants  to 
judge  of,  and  have  therefore  ordered  faid  Mary 
to  be,  by  the  firft  convenient  Opportunity,  fent 
to  Bofton  Gaol,  and  committed  there  as  a  Pri- 
foner,  to  be  further  examined  there,  and  the 
Clerk  is  to  gather  up  all  the  Evidences  and  fit 
them  to  be  fent  down  by  the  Wpf1  Mr.  Tilton 
to  our  honored  Governour,"  for  his  Difpofal. 

Mary  Webfter  was  accordingly  fent  to  Bofton 
in  the  following  April,  and  on  the  22d  of  May 
fhe  was  taken  from  the  Jail  and  placed  before 
Governor  Bradftreet,  Deputy  Gov.  Danforth  and 
the  nine  Afliftants.  The  Grand  Jury  then  pro- 
ceed to  indict  her  in  the  ufual  Verbofity  of  the 
time,  "that,  not  having  the  fear  of  God,"  &c, 
"  and  being  inftigated  by  the  Devil,  hath  entered 
into  Covenant  and  had  Familiarity  with  him  in 
the  Shape  of  a  Warraneage,1  and  had  his  Imps 
fucking  her,  and  Teats  or  Marks  found  on  her, 
as  in  and  by  feveral  Teftimonies  may  appear, 
contrary  to  the  Peace,"  &c.  Hence  the  Grand 
Jury  founded  their  Indictment  mainly  perhaps 
on  Teftimonies  of  Women  who  had  fearched  her 
for  Witch  Teats. 

Whether  the  poor  perfecuted  Woman  lay  in 

1  An  Indian  Name  for  a  black  Cat. — Judd. 


1684  in  Pennsylvania.  171 

Jail  from  April  to  September  is  not  certainly  de- 
clared, but  fhe  probably  did.  However,  fhe  was 
brought  to  the  Bar  for  Trial  on  the  4th  of  Sep- 
tember, in  Bofton,  and  pleaded  Not  Guilty,  mak- 
ing no  Exception  to  any  of  the  Jury.  To  what 
Length  the  Trial  extended  is  not  mentioned,  but 
the  Jury  brought  in  a  Verdict  of  Acquittal. 

By  a  Note  accompanying  the  Trial  of  Mrs. 
Webfter,  it  is  fhown  that  the  Expenfe  of  it 
amounted  to  twenty-three  Pounds,  fifteen  Shil- 
lings and  two  Pence;  five  Pounds  of  which  were 
for  "bringing  her  down  from  Hadley  to  Prifon," 
and  two  Pounds  for  taking  her  back  to  Hadley. 


1684. 

As  ftrong  a  Cafe  of  Witchcraft  was  made 
out  in  Pennfylvania,  at  the  Trial  of  Margaret 
Matfon,  in  Delaware  County,  in  1684,  as  rnoft 
of  fuch  Trials  can  (how.  The  Parties  in  the 
Cafe  relided  near  the  Mouth  of  Crum  Creek; 
and  it  is  faid  by  the  Hiftorian  of  that  County,1 
that  the  Accufed  flood  as  well  for  Refpectability 
as  her  Accufers.  The  Trial  took  Place  in  Phila- 
delphia, before  William  Penn,  on  the  27th  of 
February,  1684,  or  1683,  O.  S.  The  Accufa- 
tions  were  as  ridiculous  as  any  alleged  at  Witch 
Trials  in  New  England  or  Elfewhere.  Henry 
Dtyftreet  alleged  that  he  was  told  that  the  Pri- 
foner  was  a  Witch  twenty  Years  ago,  and  that 

1  George  Smith,  M.  D. 


172  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1684 

feveral  Cows  were  bewitched  by  her ;  that  James 
Saunderling's  Mother  told  him  that  fhe  bewitched 
her  Cow. 

Charles  Afhcom  teftified  that  one  Night  the 
Daughter  of  the  Prifoner  called  him  up  haftily, 
and  when  he  came  me  "fayed  there  was  a  great 
Light  but  juft  before,  and  an  old  Woman  with  a 
Knife  in  her  Hand  at  the  Bedds  Feet,  and  there- 
fore fhe  cryed  out,  and  defired  Jno.  Simcock  to 
take  away  his  Calves,  or  elfe  fhe  would  fend  them 
to  Hell.,, 

"Annakey  Coolin  faid  her  Hufband  tooke  the 
Heart  of  a  Calf  that  died,  as  they  thought  by 
Witchcraft,  and  boyled  it;  whereupon  the  Pri- 
foner came  in  and  afked  them  what  they  were 
doing?  They  faid  boyling  of  Flefh.  She  faid 
they  had  better  they  had  boyled  the  Bones,  with 
feveral  other  unfeemly  Expreffions." 

"Annakey  Cooling's  Attestation  about  the 
Gees,  faying  fhe  was  never  out  of  her  Conoo; 
and  alfo  that  fhe  never  faid  any  fuch  Thing  about 
the  Calves  Heart." 

There  were  other  Teftimonies  neither  better 
nor  worfe  than  thefe,  upon  which  the  Jury 
brought  Margaret  in  "Guilty  of  haveing  the 
common  Fame  of  a  Witch,  but  not  Guilty  in 
Manner  and  Form  as  fhe  ftands  indicted." 

The  Suggeftion  that  the  Verdict  was  accord- 
ing to  the  Ruling  of  Judge  Penn,  is  quite  a 
reafonable  one;  and  "it  is  to  be  regretted  that 
the  Charge  given  by  the  Governour  was  not  pre- 
ferved,  as  it  doubtlefs  fhaped  the  very  righteous, 


1684-  in  Pennfylvania.  173 

though  rather  ridiculous  Verdi6t."  And,  as  in 
fome  limilar  Cafes,  the  Accufed  was  bound  over 
in  the  Sum  of  one  hundred  Pounds,  for  her  good 
Behaviour  for  fix  Months.  Her  Hulband,  Neels 
Matfon,  and  her  Son-in-law,  Anthony  Neelfon, 
were  her  Sureties.1 

It  was  probably  at  this  Trial  that  Governour 
Penn  inquired  of  the  Accufed,  according  to  a 
Tradition,  whether  it  were  true  that  (he  was  a 
Witch,  and  whether,  as  was  alleged,  fhe  had  rid 
through  the  Air  on  a  Broomftick  ?  And,  on  her 
anfwering  in  the  Affirmative,  the  Judge  faid  fhe 
was  at  perfect  Liberty  to  ride  on  Broomfticks, 
for  he  knew  of  no  Law  againft  it,  and  thereupon 
ordered  her  Difcharge. 

It  will  be  borne  in  Mind  that  Pennfylvania 
was  yet  a  Wildernefs,  and  that  Philadelphia  had 
been  laid  out  fcarcely  three  Years,2  when  this 
Cafe  of  Witchcraft  occurred. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  this  is  the  only  Profe- 
cution  for  Witchcraft  in  Pennfylvania,  and  our 
Refearches  are  too  limited  to  allow  us  to  queftion 
the  AfTertion.  An  Annalift  of  that  Locality  has 
rather  injudicioufly  remarked,  that  by  the  Ver- 
dict in  the  Cafe  juft  recorded,  "  Pennfylvanians 
have  probably  efcaped  the  Odium  of  Salem!" 
There  may  be  different  Degrees  of  Ignorance 
and  Superftition.     Let  thefe  afford  what  Exulta- 

1  Smith's    Hiftory   of  Delaware     confided    of    three    or   four   little 
County,  1 52-3.  Cottages."— Watfon's     Annals    of 

2  The  Year  previous  (1683)  k     Philadelphia,  61. 


174-  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1685 

tion  they  may.  The  Statute  of  James  I.  was 
acknowledged  to  be  in  full  Force  in  the  Colony. 
A  few  Years  later,  namely,  in  1695,  Robert 
Reman  was  complained  of  at  Chefter  for  prac- 
tifing  Divination,  or,  as  it  was  then  termed, 
Geomanty.  He  was  "prefented  by  the  Grand 
Jury,  which  alfo  prefinted  for  Prohibition  divers 
Books  relating  to  Witchcraft,  Necromancy  and 
fo  forth;  as  Hidfon's  'Temple  of  Wifdom,  Scott's 
Difcovery  of  Witchcraft,  and  Cornelius  Agrippa.1 

1685. 

How  it  had  fared  with  Mary  Webfter,  fince 
her  Acquittal  in  Bofton,  in  1683,  we  are  not 
prepared  to  fay,  but  in  1685  me  was  again 
accufed  of  practifing  Sorcery,  and  of  the  ferious 
Charge  of  Murder  by  that  Practice.  To  under- 
ftand  the  Feelings  entertained  by  a  large  Majority 
of  the  Community  when  a  Witch  was  fuppofed 
to  be  difcovered,  one  of  the  Prefent  Day  fhould 
read  fome  of  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  Defcriptions. 
It  is  true  he  may  be  thought  an  Extremift  of  his 
Time,  but  it  is  alfo  true  that  his  Views  and  De- 
fcriptions were  nearly  univerfally  thofe  of  Every- 
body, the  World  over,  at  the  Time  of  thefe 
Occurrences. 

The  Name  of  Mr.  Philip  Smith  has  been 
mentioned  before,  in  Connection  with  Mary 
Webfter.  He  was  a  Man  of  coniiderable  Dis- 
tinction in   Hadley,   was   well   known  as   Lieu- 

1  Watfon's  Annals,  228. 


1685  in  New  England.  175 

tenant  Smith,  in  a  Period  when  Titles  of  Office 
were  regarded  with  much  Refpedt.  This  Gen- 
tleman died  after  a  fhort  Illnefs,  on  the  10th  of 
January,  1685;  and  as  his  Malady  was  not 
underftood  by  thofe  who  attended  him,  and  as  he 
had  been  among  thofe  who  had  brought  Mary 
Webfter  to  Trial  at  Bofton,  it  was  at  once  de- 
cided that  his  Death  was  occafioned  by  Witch- 
craft, and  that  Mary  Webfter  was  the  Witch. 
And  our  Narrator,1  being  contemporaneous  with 
the  Event,  ought  to  have  been  well  informed 
with  all  the  Particulars,  he  fhall  therefore  fpeak 
for  himfelf : 

"  Mr.  Philip  Smith,  aged  about  fifty  Years,  a 
Son  of  eminently  vertuous  Parents,  a  Deacon  of 
the  Church  in  Hadley,  a  Member  or  the  General 
Court,  a  Juftice  in  the  Countrey  Court,  a  Select 
Man  for  the  Affairs  of  the  Town,  and  which 
crowns  all,  a  Man  for  Devotion,  Sanctity,  Gravity, 
and  all  that  was  honeft,  exceeding  exemplary. 
Such  a  Man  was  in  the  Winter  of  the  Year  1684 
[1683-4],  murdered  with  an  hideous  Witchcraft, 
that  filled  all  thofe  Parts  of  New  England  with 
Aftonimment.  He  was,  by  his  Office  concerned 
about  relieving  the  Indigencies  of  a  wretched 
Woman  in  the  Town;  who  being  difTatisfied  at 
fome  of  his  juft  Cares  about  her,  exprefled  her- 
felf  unto  him  in  fuch  a  Manner,  that  he  declared 
himfelf  thenceforward  apprehenfive  of  receiving 
Mifchief  at  her  Hands. 

1  Cotton  Mather,  D.  D. 


176  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1685 

"  About  the  Beginning  of  January  he  began 
to  be  very  valetudinareous,  labouring  under  Pains 
that  feemed  ifchiatic.  The  Standers  by  could 
now  fee  in  him,  one  ripening  apace  for  another 
World,  and  rilled  with  Grace  and  Joy  to  an  high 
Degree.  He  mewed  fuch  Weanednefs  from,  and 
Wearinefs  of  the  World,  that  he  knew  not,  he 
faid,  whether  he  might  pray  for  his  Continuance 
here.  And  fuch  an  AfTurance  he  had  of  the 
Divine  Love  unto  him,  that  in  Raptures  he 
would  cry  out,  'Lord  ftay  thine  Hand,  it  is 
enough,  it  is  more  than  thy  frail  Servant  can 
beare.'  But  in  the  midft  of  thefe  Things  he  ftill 
uttered  an  hard  Sufpicion  that  the  ill  Woman 
had  threatened  him,  had  made  Impreffions  with 
Inchantments  upon  him.  While  he  remained 
yet  of  a  found  Mind,  he  very  fedately,  but  very 
folemnly  charged  his  Brother,  to  look  well  after 
him.  Tho',  he  faid,  he  now  underftood  him- 
felf,  yet  he  knew  not  how  he  might  be.  'But 
be  fure'  faid  he  'to  have  a  Care  of  me;  for  you 
fhall  fee  ftrange  Things.  There  fhall  be  a 
Wonder  in  Hadley !  I  fhall  not  be  dead,  when 
'tis  thought  I  am!'  He  preffed  this  Charge 
over  and  over,  and  afterwards  became  Delirious; 
upon  which  he  had  a  Speech  inceffant  and  volu- 
ble, and  (as  was  judged)  in  various  Languages. 
He  cried  out,  not  only  of  Pains,  but  alfo  of  Pins 
tormenting  him  in  feveral  Parts  of  his  Body; 
and  the  Attendants  found  one  of  them. 

"In  his  DiftrefTes  he  exclaimed  much  upon 
the  Woman  aforefaid  and  others,  as  being  feen  by 


1685  in  New  England.  177 

him  in  the  Room;  and  there  was  divers  Times 
both  in  that  Room,  and  over  the  whole  Houfe,  a 
ftrong  Smell  of  Something  like  Mufk,  which 
once  particularly  fo  fcented  an  Apple  roafting  at 
the  Fire,  that  it  forced  them  to  throw  it  away. 
Some  of  the  young  Men  in  the  Town  being  out 
of  their  Wits  at  the  ftrange  Calamities  thus  upon 
one  of  the  moft  beloved  Neighbours,  went  three 
or  four  Times  to  give  Difturbance  unto  the 
Woman  thus  complained  of.  And  all  the  While 
they  were  difturbing  of  her,  he  was  at  Eafe,  and 
flept  as  a  weary  Man.  Yea  thefe  were  the  only 
Times  that  they  perceived  him  to  take  any  fleep 
in  all  his  Illnefs.  Gaily  Pots  of  Medicines  pro- 
vided for  the  fick  Man,  were  unaccountably 
empty'd.  Audible  Scratchings  were  made  about 
the  Bed,  when  his  Hands  and  Feet  lay  wholly 
ftill,  and  were  heard  by  others.  They  beheld 
Fire  fometimes  on  the  Bed,  and  when  the  Be- 
holders began  to  difcourfe  of  it,  it  vanifhed  away. 
Divers  People  actually  felt  Something  often  ftir 
in  the  Bed,  at  a  confiderable  Diftance  from  the 
Man.  It  feemed  as  big  as  a  Cat,  but  they  could 
never  grafp  it.  Several  trying  to  lean  on  the 
Bed's  Head,  tho'  the  fick  Man  lay  wholly  ftill, 
the  Bed  would  (hake  fo,  as  to  knock  their  Heads 
uncomfortably.  A  very  ftrong  Man  could  not 
lift  the  fick  Man  to  make  him  lie  more  eafily, 
tho'  he  applied  his  utmoft  Strength  unto  it;  and 
yet  he  could  prefently  lift  a  Bedfted  and  a 
Bed,  and  a  Man  lying  on  it,  without  any  Strain 
to  himfelf  at  all.  Mr.  Smith  dies.  The  Jury 
X 


178  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1685 

that  view'd  his  Corpfe,  found  a  Swelling  on  one 
Breaft,  his  Privates  wounded  or  burned,  his  Back 
full  of  Bruifes,  and  feveral  Holes  that  feem'd 
made  with  Awls.  After  the  Opinion  of  all  had 
pronounced  him  Dead,  his  Countenance  con- 
tinued as  lively  as  if  he  had  been  alive;  his  Eyes 
clofed  as  in  Slumber,  and  his  nether  Jaw  not 
fallen  down. 

"Thus  he  remained  from  Saturday  Morning 
about  Sun-rife,  till  Sabbath-day  in  the  Afternoon; 
wrhen  thofe  who  took  him  out  of  the  Bed,  found 
him  ftill  warm,  tho'  the  Seafon  was  as  cold  as 
had  almoft  been  known  in  any  Age.  And  a 
New  England  Winter  does  not  want  for  Cold. 
On  the  Night  following,  his  Countenance  was 
yet  frelh  as  before;  but  on  Monday  Morning 
they  found  the  Face  extremely  tumifi'd,  and  dif- 
colour'd.  It  was  black  and  blue,  and  frefh  Blood 
feem'd  running  down  his  Cheek  upon  the  Hairs. 
Divers  Noifes  were  alfo  heard  in  the  Room 
wrhere  the  Corpfe  lay ;  as  the  Clattering  of  Chairs 
and  Stools,  whereof  no  Account  could  be  given. " 

As  in  this  Recital,  fo  in  all  fuch  by  our  Author, 
the  Reader  might  be  led  to  think  him  an  Eye 
and  Ear  Witnefs  to  all  his  Narratives;  but  it 
fhould  be  remembered  that  all,  or  nearly  all  his 
Accounts  came  to  him,  at  leaft,  fecond  handed; 
and  often,  perhaps,  through  a  third  or  fourth 
idle  Head,  all  Lovers  of  the  Marvellous;  ready  at 
all  Times,  efpecially  in  the  Night,  to  believe  the 
Air  full  of  ill  fhapen  Monfters,  bearing  Com- 
miffions  from  the  Devil,  to  enlift  Followers,  of 


1685  in  New  England.  179 

whom  he  might  make  Witches  and  fend  them 
forth  to  vex  and  torment  Mankind. 

As  a  Sort  of  Sequel  to  the  Tragedy  of  Mary 
Webfter,  it  mould  be  related,  that  the  poor  and 
hararTed  old  Woman  lived  many  Years  after  fhe 
was  believed  to  have  killed  Philip  Smith  by  Sor- 
cery.    She  died  in  1696.1 

It  will  be  remembered,  that,  in  the  Narrative 
juft  extracted,  Mention  is  made  of  "fome  young 
Men"  who  "went  three  or  four  Times  to  give 
Disturbance  "  to  Mrs.  Webfter.  It  is  faid  by  a 
reliable  Hiftorian,*  that  the  young  Mifcreants 
went  to  her  Houfe,  dragged  her  out,  and  hung 
her  up  till  fhe  was  almoft  dead.  They  then  cut 
her  down,  rolled  her  fome  Time  in  the  Snow, 
and  then  buried  her  up  in  it,  leaving  her,  as  they 
doubtlefs  fuppofed,  for  Dead!  But  by  a  Miracle, 
as  it  were,  fhe  furvived  this  Barbarity.  Still  more 
miraculous  it  was,  that  the  fick  Man  was  greatly 
relieved  during  the  Time  the  helplefs  old  Woman 
was  being  fo  beaftly  abufed  by  the  Ruffians! 
The  Tormentors  muft  have  been  Infidels  of  the 
worft  Type,  elfe  they  would  never  have  dared  to 
moleft  one  whom  they  believed  to  be  a  Witch, 
and  hence  able  to  afflict  them  as  forely  as  Mr. 
Smith  was  afflicted.  And  yet  they  doubtlefs  be- 
lieved that  a  Witch  "  could  take  off  her  Shoes  and 


1  As  though  fhe  had   been  tried  to  falfe   Impreffions,    (he    was  ac- 

for  the  Murder  of   Smith  (which  quitted.     Years  more  were  needed 

was    not   the    Cafe),   Savage    fays,  for  the  full  Triumph  of  the  Devil 

"  even  though  fhe  was  before  a  Jury  and  Cotton  Mather,, ! 
at  Bofton,  then  peculiarly  expofed         2  Hutchinfon. 


180  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1688 

go  through  a  Keyhole"  to  torment  whoever  (he 
pleafed.  Such  are  the  Inconfiftencies  of  Be- 
lievers in  Witchcraft. 

A  Cafe  very  fimilar  to  this  occurred  many 
Years  later,  in  the  County  of  Hereford,  England, 
namely,  in  175 1,  in  the  Town  of  Barkhamfted. 
"The  People  of  this  Place,"  writes  De  Foe,1 
"muft  be  believed  to  be  highly  addicted  to  Su- 
perftition,  if  we  form  our  Notions  of  them  from 
the  Barbarity  great  Numbers  of  them  exercifed, 
in  the  Month  of  April,  175 1,  thro'  the  Inftiga- 
tion  of  a  Publican,  who  took  himfelf  to  be  be- 
witched by  one  Ruth  Olbourne,  and  her  Huf- 
band,  two  poor  Creatures,  whom,  after  various 
Inftances  of  the  moft  diabolical  rage,  under  pre- 
tence of  the  exploded  Trial  of  ducking,  they 
dragged  about  the  Length  of  two  Miles,  and 
threw  into  a  muddy  Stream;  thro'  which  ill 
Ufage  the  Woman  died,  and  for  which  one  Col- 
lins fuffered  Death." 

1688. 

There  are  few  more  remarkable  Cafes  in  the 
Annals  of  Witchcraft  than  that  related  as  having 
happened  in  Bofton,  in  the  Year  1688,  in  the 
Family  of  a  reputable  Inhabitant  of  the  Name 
of  John  Goodwin,  living  at  the  North  End  of 
the  Town.  As  the  Circumftances  are  minutely 
detailed  by  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  in  his  Magnalia, 
by  Gov.  Hutchinfon  in  the  Hijiory  of  Maffachu- 

1  Or  rather  the  Editor  of  his  Tour  through  Great  Britain,  II,  187-8. 


1 68 8  in  New  England.  181 

fetts  and  in  the  Hijiory  and  Antiquities  of  Bo/lon, 
it  is  not  propofed  to  repeat  them  here.  We 
therefore  will  only  mention,  that  one  Perfon 
fuffered  Death  as  the  final  Refult  of  the  ftrange 
Infatuation.  The  Victim  appears  to  have  been  a 
poor  old  Woman,  according  to  Robert  Calef, 
"crazy  and  ill-conditioned,  and  an  Irifh  Roman 
Catholic."  She  was  arraigned  before  Judge 
Jofeph  Dudley,  condemned  and  executed.  Her 
Name  was  Glover,  and  we  have  no  other  Clue  to 
her  Hiftory.  She  was  not  a  crazy  Perfon,  as  we 
now  underftand  the  Word;  that  is,  it  was  not 
meant  that  me  was  infane,  but  fimply  that  me 
was  weak  and  infirm.  We  have,  in  our  Time, 
heard  the  Word  Crazy  applied  to  aged  and  feeble 
Perfons. 

It  may,  however,  be  interefting  to  have  a  few 
Specimens  of  what  it  is  alleged  that  the  be- 
witched Children  experienced  during  the  Time 
of  their  being  tormented  by  "invifible  Hands." 
And  it  may  be  fafely  remarked,  that  if  the  Half 
of  what  is  folemnly  vouched  for,  be  true,  it  is  no 
Wonder  the  WitneiTes  were  amazed  and  af- 
tounded. 

John  Goodwin,  the  Father  of  the  bewitched 
Children,  came  to  Bofton  from  Charleftown. 
His  Children  were  Nathaniel,  born  1672,  Martha, 
born  1674,  John,  1677,  and  Mercy,  1681.  All 
thefe  were  in  the  Plot  of  "childifh  Mifchief" 
which  fo  "fadly  perplexed  and  befooled  Cotton 
Mather,"  as  our  Cotemporary  exprefles  it,  as 
though  he  were  the  only  one  "  befooled."     The 


1 82  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1688 

Commencement  of  the  Trouble  did  indeed  arife 
from  a  childifh  Circumftance.  Some  Article  of 
Clothing  was  miffed  by  the  Family,  when  Mary 
Goodwin  charged  their  Washerwoman's  Daughter 
with  purloining  it.  This  Charge  the  Mother 
indignantly  repelled,  and  perhaps  in  rough  and 
irritating  Language;  whereupon  Mary  "was  im- 
mediately taken  with  odd  Fits,  that  carried  in 
them  Something  diabolical. "  Soon  after  the 
other  Sifter  and  two  Brothers  "  were  horribly 
taken  with  the  like  Fits.,,  What  was  thought 
to  be  extraordinary  and  preternatural  by  the  moft 
experienced  Phyficians,  was  the  Fa6l  that  all  the 
Children  "were  tormented  alike;  juft  in  the 
fame  Part  of  their  Bodies,  and  at  the  fame 
Time,"  though  they  were  far  apart,  and  neither 
heard  nor  fa w  one  another.  At  the  fame  Time 
"  their  Pains  flew  like  fwift  Lightning "  from 
one  Part  of  their  Bodies  to  another.  Yet,  not- 
withftanding  their  Tortures,  it  was  with  fupreme 
Credulity  remarked,  that  they  flept  well  all 
Night  after  nine  or  ten  O'clock  at  Night !  Un- 
doubtedly, after  performing  their  Deceptions  all 
Day,  they  were  too  tired  to  keep  awake  all 
Night.  "  But,  when  the  Day  came,  they  were 
moft  miferably  handled  "  again.  They  would  fo 
affed;  Blindnefs,  Deafnefs  and  Infenfibility  gene- 
rally, as  completely  to  deceive  their  credulous 
and  Ample  Friends.  Their  Tongues  would  be 
drawn  down  their  Throats  and  then  thruft  out 
upon  their  Chins,  "  to  a  prodigious  Length." 
Their  Jaws  would  be  thrown   out  of  Joint,  by 


1 688  in  New  England.         /   183 

unavoidable  Yawnes,  "and  anon  clap  together 
again  like  a  fpriug  Lock.  They  made  piteous 
Outcries,  that  they  were  cut  with  Knives  and 
ftruck  with  Blows,  and  the  plain  Prints  of  the 
Wounds  were  feen  upon  them." 

Their  Necks  would  be  broken,  fo  that  the 
Bone  would  feem  to  be  diflblved,  and  then  it 
would  become  fo  ftiff  that  there  was  no  ftirring 
of  their  Heads.  At  Devotions  they  were  en- 
tirely deaf,  and  could  hear  Nothing  of  what  was 
faid ;  yet  the  Bofton  and  Charleftown  Minifters 
held  a  Faft  at  Mr.  Goodwin's  Houfe,  which 
relieved  the  youngeft  Child.  -  It  is  not  ftrange 
that  a  Child  of  eight  Years  was  not  able  to  keep 
up  the  juggling  Bufinefs  any  longer,  on  the  other 
Hand  it  is  ftrange  it  held  out  any  Length  of 
Time. 

But  the  Magiftrates,  "  being  awakened  by  the 
Noife  of  thefe  grievous  and  horid  Occurrences," 
ordered  Mrs.  Glover  to  be  taken  into  Cuftody. 
At  her  Trial  her  pleading  "was  with  owning 
and  bragging  rather  than  Denial  of  her  Guilt," 
fo  that  the  Court  fufpected  me  was  under  the  In- 
fluence of  another  Witch  of  a  higher  Grade  than 
herfelf.  They  caufed  her  Houfe  to  be  fearched, 
in  which  were  found  feveral  Rag-babies.  Thefe 
were  decided  to  be  Puppets,  being  fluffed  with 
Goats  Hair,  at  which  "  the  vile  Woman  confeffed 
that  her  Way  to  torment  the  Objects  of  her  Mal- 
ice was  by  wetting  of  her  Finger  with  her  Spit- 
tle,    and    ftroaking    of    thefe    little     Immages. 


184  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1688 

When  fhe  was  made  to  take  one  of  thefe  in  her 
Hand,  one  of  the  Children  fell  into  fad  Fits." 

The]  poor  Woman  fpoke  Englifh  but  poorly, 
and  from  her  AnTwers~TcTperplexing  Queftions  it 
was  believed  the  Devil  had  deferted  her,  for 
Somebody  heard  her  expoftulating,  the  Night 
following,  with  a  Devil,  for  thus  deferting  her, 
and  telling  him  (he  had  confeffed  all.  Being  a 
ftrict  Catholick,  fhe  probably  anfwered  with  a  Sort 
of  Fear  that  fhe  had  fomehow  gotten  into  a 
ftrange  Inquifition.  Our  Author  fays,  "  I  did 
myfelf  give  divers  Vifits  unto  her,  wherein  (he 
told  me,"  among  other  Things,  that  "  her  Prince 
was  the  Devil."  Evidently  the  poor  ignorant 
Creature  thought  the  Reverend  Divine  was  cate- 
chifing  her  upon  fome  Points  of  her  Religion  ; 
and  from  all  that  can  be  gathered  from  their 
Converfation  as  reported  by  the  Divine  himfelf, 
he  understood  her  quite  as  well  as  fhe  did  him. 
She  was  not  willing  he  mould  pray  with  her 
without  the  Confent  of  fome  good  Catholick 
Spirits.  This  the  Reverend  Divine  conftrued  to 
mean  that  me  could  not  allow  of  it  without  the 
Confent  of  the  Devil ! 

At  her  Execution  me  faid  the  Children  would 
not  be  relieved  by  her  Death,  and  that  it  was  not 
fhe  that  afflicted  them.  This  was  conftrued  into 
a  Threat  that  "  they  Jhould  not  be  relieved  by 
her  Death,"  and  that  others  as  well  as  fhe  afflicted 
them.  "  Accordingly  the  three  Children  con- 
tinued in  their  Furnace  as  before,  and  it  grew 
rather  feven  Times  hotter  than  it  was,  and  their 


1691  in  New  England.  185 

Calamities  went  on,  till  they  barked  at  one 
another  like  Dogs,  and  then  purred  like  fo  many- 
Cats;  would  complain  that  they  were  in  a  red- 
hot  Oven,  and  fweat  and  pant  as  if  they  had  been 
really  fo.  Anon  they  would  fay  cold  Water  was 
thrown  on  them,  at  which  they  would  fhiver 
very  much.  They  would  complain  of  being 
roafted  on  an  invifible  Spit,  and  then  that  their 
Heads  were  nailed  to  the  Floor,  and  it  was  beyond 
an  ordinary  Strength  to  pull  them  from  it." 

"  One  of  them  dreamt  that  Something  was 
growing  within  his  Skin,  acrofs  one  of  his  Ribs. 
An  expert  Chirurgeon  found  there  a  brafs  Pin, 
which  could  not  poffibly  come  to  lie  there  as  it 
did,  without  a  preftigious  and  myfterious  Con- 
veyance. Sometimes  they  would  fly  like  Geefe, 
and  be  carried  with  an  incredible  Swiftnefs 
through  the  Air,  having  but  juft  their  Toes  upon 
the  Ground  (not  once  in  twenty  Feet),  and  their 
Arms  waved  like  the  Wings  of  a  Bird." 

Thus  are  Sketched  but  a  fmall  Part  of  the 
Wonders  performed  by  the  Goodwin  Children, 
yet  thefe  will  probably  fatisfy  our  Readers,  as  we 
have  not  Room  for  more. 

1691. 

At  a  Court  in  Springfield,  on  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1 69 1,  Mary  Randall  was  charged  with 
Witchcraft.  The  Court  entertained  the  Com- 
plaint, but  why  the  Cafe  was  put  off  for  a  Year, 
unlefs  the  Evidence  was  deemed  infurBcient  im- 

Y 


1 86  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

mediately  to  try  her,  is  left  to  Conjecture.  At 
the  end  of  a  Year  no  Trial  was  had,  but  the 
Father  of  the  Accufed,  William  Randall,  became 
bound  for  her  good  Behaviour;  and  this  feems  to 
be  the  Laft  heard  of  the  Action,  and  the  laft  Cafe 
of  Witchcraft  in  the  County  of  Hampfhire. 

1692. 

So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  thirty 
Years  had  elapfed  fince  the  experimental  Trial  of 
a  Witch  by  Water  had  taken  Place  in  the  Co- 
lonies. That  related  by  Dr.  Increafe  Mather,  of 
1662,  was  the  firft  and  only  one  up  to  that  Date, 
fo  far  as  known.  However  hard  it  may  be  to 
believe  that  fuch  Things  ever  happened  in  this 
Land,  that  comes  to  us  fo  direct,  and  from  fo 
veracious  a  Contemporary  of  it,  that  a  Difbelief 
in  it  cannot  be  entertained  for  a  Moment.  And 
as  we  have  one  other  well  authenticated  Cafe  it 
is  here  given.  This,  according  to  our  Authority,1 
took  place  in  FairfieJ^  Cnj^ne<cticut.  JiL__£ep- 
tember  of  thisYear  (1602)  Mercy  Diiborojupji. 
Wife"  of  Thomas  Diiborough,  of  CampOj  in 
Fairfield,  anHjwn    or    thjee    other  Wnmer^  were 

tried  at  Fairfield  for  Witchcraft,  and  all  were 
acquitted  except  Mercy  Diiborough.  who  was 
frmnd  Guilty  and  fentenced  to  die~  She  is  fup- 
pofed  to  have  been  acquitted;  and  why  me  fhould 
have  been  fubjected  to  the  Ordeal  of  being  thrown 
into   the   Water   it   is   not   eafy    to   fee;  but  our 

1  Sylvefter  Judd,  Efq.,  in  his  Hjftory  of  Hadley,  233-4. 


1692  in  New  England.  187 

Authority  goes  on  :  "  Mercy  Difborough  and 
Elizabeth  Clauflbn  were  bound,  Hands  and  Feet, 
and  put  into  the  Water;  and  Witneffes  teftified 
that  they  'fwam  like  Cork;'  yet  Elifabeth  was 
acquitted,  and  Mary  was  not  condemned,  becaufe 
me  floated." 

Notwith (landing  the  Record  of  this  Barbarity 
is  unimpeachable,  and  may  have  been  fuppofed 
unparalleled  in  this  Country,  it  will  fubfequently 
appear  that  a  fimilar  one  tranfpired  in  Virginia, 
and  at  a  Date  allowing  lefs  Excufe  for  its  Perpe- 
tration. 

So  much  has  been  written  and  publifhed  upon 
the  great  Outbreak  of  1692,  that  only  a  brief 
Outline  will  be  attempted  in  this  Treatife.  All 
Things  confidered,  it  is  one  of  the  moft  furprifing 
Events  in  Hiftory.  The  Smallnefs  of  the  Num- 
ber of  thofe  engaged  in  it,  in  its  Beginning,  their  \ 
Youth  and  Pofition  in  Society,  their  Ability  to  J 
deceive  Everybody  for  fo  long  a  Time!  In  any 
View  that  has  yet  been  taken  of  it,  its  Narrator 
has  found  himfelf  baffled  to  a  Degree  beyond 
that  of  any  other  Event  in  the  whole  Range  of 
Hiftory,  to  account  fatisfa&orily  for  the  Conduct 
of  the  young  Females  through  whofe  Inftrumen- 
tality  it  was  carried  on.  It  required  more  devil- 
ijld  Ability  to  deceive,  Adroitnefs  to  blind  the 
Underftanding,  and  to  keep  up  a  Confcioufnefs  of 
that  Ability  among  themfelves,  than  ever  fell  to 
the  Lot  of  a  like  Number  of  Impoftors  in 
any  Age  of  which  the  Writer  has  ever  read ;  and 


\ 


188  Annals  of  JVitchcraft  1692 

he  can  only  fay,  if  there  are  parallel  Cafes  they 
have  not  fallen  under  his  Obfervation. 

It  is  true,  that  when  once  the  Imagination  is 
excited,  the  Reafon  may  become  confufed,  and  a 
Lofs  of  Judgment  follows.  Thefe  Circum fiances 
happening  in  a  Community  bound  in  a  Spell  of 
fuperftitious  Awe,  may  account  in  fome  Degree 
for  the  total  Want  of  Judgment,  common  Senfe 
and  Humanity,  fo  prominent  in  all  Profecutions 
for  Witchcraft.  Such,  however,  is  believed  to 
be  the  Mafter-Key  to  the  Profecutions  and  Per- 
fections to  which  a  Belief  in  Witchcraft  has 
given  rife. 

That  which  gave  the  Accufers  great  Advantage 
over  all  Oppofition  from  every  Quarter,  was  the 
I  religious  Belief  that  nearly  Everybody  had  in  its, 
Reality.  It  was  at  the  Hazard  of  being  denounced 
by  every  Chriftian  as  an  Infidel,  to  utter  a  Word 
againft  its  Exiftence,  and  it  was  believed  that  any 
Perfon  might  become  a  Witch.  So  thoroughly 
imbued  with  that  prepofterous  and  pernicious 
Belief,  were  all  Parties,  that  not  only  the  Court 
and  Juries  were  demented  by  it,  but  the  Accufed 
alfo ;  for  not  one  is  remembered,  who,  in  their 
laft  Moments,  even  queftioned  the  Reality  of 
Witchcraft;  but  on  the  other  Hand,  directly  or 
indirectly  acknowledged  that  there  were  Witches, 
and  hoped  they  would  be  found  out  and  punifhed, 
while  they  themfelves  difclaimed  all  Knowledge 
of  it. 
C  The  principal  Accufers  and  WitnefTes,  too,  in 
\the  whole  Term  of  the  Witchcraft  Profecutions 


F692  in  New  England.  189 

were  eight  Females,  nearly  all  young  Girls,  from 
eleven  to  twenty  Years  of  Age.  Thefe  were 
Abigail  Williams,  eleven;  Mary  Walcut,  feven- 
teen ;  Ann  Putnam,  twelve ;  Mercy  Lewis, 
feventeen;  Mary  Warren,  twenty;  Elizabeth 
Booth,  eighteen;  Sarah  Churchill,  twenty;  and 
Sufannah  Sheldon. 

Mary  Walcutt  was  Daughter  of  Captain  John 
Walcutt;  Ann  Putnam  was  a  Daughter  of 
Thomas  Putnam ;  Mercy  Lewis  was  a  Servant 
living  in  Mr.  Putnam's  Family;  Mary  Warren 
lived  in  the  Family  of  Mr.  John  Procter ;  Eliza- 
beth Booth  lived  near  John  Procter;  Sarah 
Churchill  lived  in  the  Family  of  George  Jacobs, 
Senr. ;  Sufannah  Sheldon  lived  in  the  Village. 

Thefe  Females  inftituted  frequent  Meetings,  or 
got  up,  as  it  would  now  be  ftyled,  a  Club,  which 
was  called  a  Circle.  How  frequent  they  had 
thefe  Meetings  is  not  ftated,  but  it  was  foon  afcer- 
tained  that  they  met  "to  try  Projects,"  or  to  do 
or  produce  fuperhuman  Acts.  They  doubtlefs 
had  among  them  fome  Book  or  Books  on  Magic, 
and  Stories  of  Witchcraft,  which  fome  one_or 
niore  of  their  Circle  profeifed  to  underftand,  and 
pretended  to  teach  the  Reft.  ,  Yet  they  were 
generally  very  ignorant,  for  out  of  the  eight  but 
two  could  write  their  Names.  Such  were  the 
Characters  which  fet  in  Motion  that  ftupendous 
Tragedy,  which  ended  in  Blood  and  Ruin. 

Inquiry  as  to  thefe  Accufers  muft  have  early 
occurred.  Whether  they  or  any  of  them  were 
ever    punifhed?      They    were    not,    becaufe    the 


190  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

Party  which  had  believed  in  them  in  the  firft 
Place,  believed  in  Witchcraft  ftill.  The  Believers 
and  Infidels  died  out  together.  Years  afluaged 
the  aggrieved  Minds  of  fuch  as  were  living  long 
after,  and  Nothing  was  done,  excepting  the  Be- 
ftowal  of  a  few  paltry  Pounds  on  fome  clamorous 
pretended  Sufferers,  and  a  few  Shillings  on  thofe 
who  needed  it  more,  and  were  far  greater  Suf- 
ferers. And  as  to  thofe  who  caufed  the  Profecu- 
tions,  adds  Hutchinfon,  "fome  of  them  proved 
Profligates,  abandoned  to  all  Vice,  others  parTed 
their  Days  in  Obfcurity  or  Contempt. " 

March  ift.  Sarah  Good  is  apprehended  and 
committed  to  Jail.  On  the  fame  Day  an  Indian 
Woman  is  brought  before  Juftices  Hathorne  and 
Corwin,  who  examined  her  refpecling  what  had 
taken  Place  in  the  Rev.  Samuel   Parris's  Family. 

March  7th.  Sarah  Good,  Sarah  Ofburn,  and 
Tituba,  are  all  fent  to  Bofton  to  be  there  impri- 
foned.  Sarah  Ofburn  died  there  (in  Jail)  on  the 
10th  of  May  following.  Tituba  lay  in  Jail 
thirteen  Months,  and  was  then  fold  to  pay  her 
Prifon  Charges.  Befides  Sarah  Olburn,  Anne 
Fofter  alfo  died  in  Jail.  And  it  is  not  unlikely, 
but  on  the  other  Hand  is  extremely  probable, 
that  many  others  fuffered  Death  during  the  long 
and  cold  Winter  of  1692-3,  after  inevitable  Pri- 
vations, and  in  many  Cafes  loaded  with  Iron 
Chains ! 

From  March,  1692,  to  May,  1693,  nearly,  if 
not  more  than  two  hundred  Perfons  had  been 
dragged  to  Prifon,  under  color  of  Law  and  the 


1692  in  New  England.  191 

Mockery  of  a  Trial.  Some  it  is  certain  efcaped 
through  the  good  Offices  of  Friends  outfide,  and 
fome  by  Connivance  with  their  Jailors.  Thefe, 
added  to  the  Number  which  had  died  in  Durefs, 
could  hardly  have  been  lefs  than  fifty,  and  we 
know  from  good  Authority,  that  the  Number  fet 
at  Liberty  in  May,  1693,  by  Governour  Phips' 
Proclamation  was  one  hundred  and  fifty !  moft  of 
whom,  if  not  all,  had  lain  all  Winter  in  Jail. 

It  requires  no  Flexibility  of  Imagination  to 
prefume  that  many  Families  had  been  utterly 
ruined.  The  Imprifoned  were  generally  Perfons 
of  fmall  Eftates,  and  fmall  as  they  were,  Cqafi£- 
cation  felJLuppn  them.  Befides  that  Befom  of 
Deftrucliion,  Jailor's  Fees  and  Court  Expenfes 
were  added  to  their  Burthens. 

The  Number  that  perifhed  by  violent  Deaths 
is  mown  to  have  been  twenty,  and  of  each  of 
them  follows  brief  Notices. 

1.  Bridget  Bifhop,  faid  to  have  "long  under- 
gone the  Repute  of  a  Witch."  One  Samuel 
Gray  teftified  to  her  having  performed  Witch- 
craft twenty  Years  previous.  But  on  his  Death 
Bed  he  acknowledged  his  Perfidy,  and  that  his 
Accufations  were  wholly  groundlefs.  She  was 
executed  protefting  her  Innocence,  June  10th, 
1692. 

2.  George  Burroughs,  a  Minifter  of  the  Gof- 
pel,  was  executed  Auguft  19th,  1692,  under 
Circum fiances  which  muft  ever  caufe  a  Thrill  of 
indignant  Horror,  and  the  deepeft  Commiferation 


192  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

to  all  who  have,  and  ever  hereafter  may  read  the 
Story  of  his  laft  and  dying  Scene. 

3.  Martha  Carrier,  of  Andover,  was  executed 
the  fame  Time  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burroughs. 
She  was  the  Wife  of  Thomas  Carrier,  Hufband- 
man.  The  Number  of  Teftimonies  againft  her 
were  many  and  furprifing,  but  not  fo  furprifing  as 
that  any  were  weak  enough  to  believe  them. 

4.  Giles  Cory  was  by  an  old  Law  put  to  the 
moft  cruel  Death.  When  arraigned  before  the 
Court  he  refufed  to  plead,  or  anfwer  Queftions; 
for  he  knew  what  his  Fate  would  be  in  either 
Cafe.  So  to  avoid  giving  the  Profecution  any 
Advantage,  he  would  anfwer  Nothing.  Where- 
upon he  was  fentenced  to  be  prefled  to  Death. 
Hence,  refufing  to  put  himfelf  on  Trial,  no  Trial 
actually  took  place,  and  his  Death  was  the  Refult 
of  his  Obftinacy,  and  a  Firmnefs  with  fcarcely  a 
Parallel,  certainly  not  in  American  Annals.  At 
the  Time  of  his  Death  (September  16th,  1692) 
he  was  over  eighty  Years  old.  He  had  been  an 
"  Iron  Man,"  as  would  be  faid  of  fuch  in  our 
Times.  In  the  Commencement  of  the  Troubles 
he  acted  a  lingular  Part,  and  in  his  earlier  Career 
had  acquired,  whether  juftly  or  not  it  is  difficult 
to  determine,  the  Ill-will  and  Envy  of  many  of 
his  Neighbours,  fome  of  whom  were  glad  of  an 
Opportunity  to  fee  him  troubled  and  humbled. 
But  in  the  latter  Particular  they  fignally  failed, 
for  he  flood  firm  to  the  laft  Breath.  Whether 
he  was  more  than  once  required  to  plead  "  Guilty," 
or  "Not  Guilty,"  our  Records  do  not  ftate,  but  it 


1692  in  New  England.  193 

is  likely  the  old  Englifh  Law  was  obferved,  and 
that  he  was  brought  before  the  Court  three 
Times,  and  three  Times  required  to  plead.1 

Well,  though  ironically,  has  the  Ballad  per- 
petuated the  Memory  of  Giles  Cory,  in  the  Lines 
which  follow: 


"  Giles  Corey  was  a  Wizzard  ftrong, 
A  ftubborn  Wretch  was  he, 
And  fitt  was  he  to  hang  on  high 
Upon  the  Locuft  Tree. 

So  when  before  the  Magistrates 

For  Triall  he  did  come, 
He  would  no  true  Confeffion  make 

But  was  compleatlie  dumbe. 

'  Giles  Corey,'  faid  the  Magiftrate, 
c  What  haft  thou  heare  to  pleade 

To  thefe  that  now  accufe  thy  Soule 
Of  Crimes  and  horrid  Deed  ? ' 

Giles  Corey  —  he  faid  not  a  Worde, 

No  fingle  Worde  fpake  he ; 
1  Giles  Corey,'  fayth  the  Magiftrate, 

*  We'll  prefs  it  out  of  thee.' 

They  got  them  then  a  heavy  Beam, 

They  laid  it  on  his  Breaft ; 
They  loaded  it  with  heavie  Stones, 

And  hard  upon  him  preft. 

c  More  Weight,'  now  faid  this  wretched  Man, 
c  More  Weight,'  again  he  cryed, 

And  he  did  no  Confeffion  make, 
But  wickedly  he  dyed." 

1  Mather  fays  he  was  often  be-     Invifible     World,     210,     Edition 
fore   the    Court. — Wonders  of  the     1866. 

z 


ig4  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

He  laid  in  the  Jail  at  Ipfwich  from  the  19th 
of  April  till  the  16th  of  September,  excepting 
the  Time  occupied  in  his  Examination  and  Exe- 
cution. 

5.  Martha  Cory  was  the  Wife  of  Giles  Cory, 
a  Woman  of  blamelefs  Life,  a  pious  and  worthy 
Woman.  She  was  "cried  out  upon"  for  that 
very  Reafon ;  for  hitherto  the  mifcreant  Accufers 
had  ftruck  at  Perfons  in  more  humble  Circum- 
ftances,  and  now  to  raife  their  own  Import- 
ance began  to  accufe  Perfons  whom  they  did  not 
dare  to  attempt  at  firft.  She  was  executed  Sep- 
tember 22d,  1692,  "protefting  her  Innocency, 
concluding  her  Life  with  an  eminent  Prayer  upon 
the  Ladder." 

Upon  her  Cafe  our  Balladift  fays : 

"Dame  Corey  lived  but  fix  Dayes  more, 
But  fix  Dayes  more  lived  me, 
For  fhe  was  hanged  at  Gallows  Hill 
Upon  the  Locuft  Tree." 

6.  Mary  Eafty  was  Wife  of  Ifaac  Eafty,  about 
fifty-eight  Years  of  Age,  and  the  Mother  of 
feven  Children.  She  was  Sifter  of  Rebecca 
Nurfe  and  Sarah  Cloyfe.  She  appears  to  have 
been  a  meek,  and  amiable  Lady,  and  the  Judges 
feemed  fomewhat  ftaggered  when  in  this  Charac- 
ter fhe  ftood  before  her  Accufers.  But  as  yet 
the  Monfters  had  met  with  no  Check,  and  their 
Teftimony  was  believed  by  the  imbecile  Court. 
After  her  Condemnation,  fhe  made  a  moft  touch- 
ing Petition  to  the   Judges   "and  the  Reverend 


1692  in  New  England.  195 

Minifters,"  in  which  {he  befought  them,  "  not  for 
my  own  Life,"  (he  urged,  "for  I  know  I  muft 
die,  and  my  appointed  Time  is  fet;  but,  if  it  be 
poffible,  that  no  more  Innocent  Blood  be  fried, 
which  cannot  be  avoided  in  the  Way  and  Courfe 
you  go  in."  All  availed  Nothing.  She  was  one 
of  the  eight  hung  at  the  fame  Time,  namely, 
September  22d,  1692.  It  was  upon  this  Occa- 
fion  that  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Noyes,  then  prefent, 
and  viewing  the  Victims,  remarked  to  the  By- 
ftanders:  "What  a  fad  Thing  it  is  to  fee  eight 
Firebrands  of  Hell  hanging  there ! "  What  could 
be  expected  of  Followers  when  fuch  were  the 
Leaders?  Mr.  Noyes  was  a  fingle  Man,  and  in 
great  Repute  elfewhere  as  well  as  in  the  Com- 
munity in  which  he  then  was.  He  is  faid  to 
have  acknowledged  his  Error  refpecting  the 
Witchcraft  Profecutions ;  but  whether  he  made 
any  Atonement  by  affifting  thofe  he  had  helped 
to  ruin,  we  have  no  Evidence.  His  Election 
Sermon  of  1698  mows  a  great  Amount  "of 
Heathen  Learning,"  and  by  fome  PafTages  in  it 
he  evidently  had  the  Horrors  of  1692  before  the 
Eye  of  his  Imagination.  "With  Grief  and 
Shame  we  read  over  and  meditate  upon  fome 
Texts  fpoke  of  Ifrael:  'as  they  were  increafed  fo 
they  finned,'  &c.  So  hath  it  been  with  us.  As 
for  our  Degeneracy,  it  is  too  palpable  to  be  de- 
nied, and  too  grofs  to  be  excufed."  Again,  "God 
is  a  very  great  Stranger  to  the  Affairs  of  New 
England.  Inftead  of  Plenty  we  have  had  Scarcity ; 
inftead  of  Health,   Sicknefs;    inftead  of   Peace, 


ig6  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

War ;  impoverifhed  and  brought  low.     We  have 
had  remarkable  Trouble  from  Heaven  and  Hell." 

7.  Sarah  Good,  of  Salem  Village,  was  one  of 
the  flrft  of  the  Victims  of  the  Delufion.  Being 
poor  and  friendlefs,  and  of  general  bad  Repute, 
her  Perfecution  was  not  regarded  as  fuch,  and 
thus  a  Beginning  of  the  nefarious  Work  was 
eafily  accomplished.  Although  defpifed  and 
treated  with  all  Manner  of  Indignities,  her  Spirit 
was  not  broken,  as  appears  from  her  Anfwer  to 
Mr.  Noyes  at  the  Place  of  Execution.  He  in- 
fultingly  told  her  (he  was  a  Witch,  and  that  fhe 
knew  it.  She  indignantly  replied,  "You  are  a 
Liar.  I  am  no  more  a  Witch  than  you  are  a 
Wizzard,  and  if  you  take  away  my  Life,  God  will 
give  you  Blood  to  drink. "  She  was  hanged  July 
19th,  1692. 

8.  Elizabeth,  Wife  of  James  How  of  Ipfwich, 
was  arraigned  on  the  30th  of  June,  1692.  The 
Teftimony  againft  her  was  very  voluminous,  but 
was  abfurd  and  childiih  as  on  all  fimilar  Occafions. 
She  was  a  pious  and  amiable  Woman,  but  No- 
thing could  fave  her,  and  on  the  19th  of  July  (he 
was  hanged. 

9.  George  Jacobs,  Sen.,  of  Salem,  was  executed 
at  the  fame  Time  with  the  laft  mentioned.  His 
Grand-daughter,  Margaret  Jacobs,  teftified  againft 
him  at  his  Trial,  but  when  it  was  too  late,  ac- 
knowledged her  Perfidy,  in  a  piteous  Letter,  ftill 
extant. 

10.  Sufanna  Martin  had  long  been  under  the 
Imputation   of   being    a    Witch,    and    has    been 


1692  in  New  England.  197 

noticed  in  the  Events  of  1669.  She  was  one  of 
thofe  executed  on  the  1 9th  of  July.  She  belonged 
to  Amefbury,  and  appears  to  have  been  a  Woman 
of  great  Spirit  and  bufinefs  Capacity,  and  perhaps 
fomewhat  prone  to  wordy  Contefrs,  by  which  fhe 
had  excited  the  Jealoufy  of  envious  Neighbours. 
Her  Trial  took  place  on  the  29th  of  June,  in 
which  fhe  was  found  Guilty,  and  was  hanged  on 
the  19th  of  July  following.  At  her  Examina- 
tion her  Replies  to  the  Judge's  Queftions  mow  a 
Mind  far  fuperior  to  that  of  the  Court;  and  for 
Directnefs,  Concifenefs,  and  common  Senfe,  has 
commended  itfelf  to  all  Readers  from  that  Day 
to  this,  and  has  thoufands  of  Times  been  quoted. 

11.  Rebecca  Nurfe,  of  Salem  Village,  a  Lady 
of  great  Worth,  but  aged  and  in  poor  Health, 
was  drawn  into  the  awful  Vortex  in  what  would 
appear  at  this  Time,  but  from  a  Knowledge  of 
the  Existence  of  Feuds  which  arofe  from  various 
Caufes,  as  a  very  ftrange  Occurrence.  She  was 
facrificed  in  a  Manner  too  cruel  for  Belief.  The 
Jury  returned  a  Verdict  of  Not  Guilty,  but  the 
Court,  by  the  moft  barefaced  Perverfion  of  her 
Anfwers,  and  being  determined  on  her  Deftruc- 
tion,  fent  the  Jury  out  again  and  forced  a  Verdict 
of  Guilty  from  them !  There  is  Nothing  more 
memorable,  or  lamentable,  in  all  the  Trials  and 
Convictions,  than  the  Cafe  of  this  Poor  Woman. 
She  was  hanged  with  the  five  that  fufFered  on  the 
19th  of  July. 

12.  Alice  Parker,  with  eight  more,  received 
Sentence  of  Death  on  the    17th  of  September, 


198  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

and  was  executed  five  Days  after.  She  belonged 
to  Salem,  the  Wife  of  John  Parker,  Mariner. 
As  Nothing  is  heard  of  her  Hufband  in  con- 
nection with  the  Profecutions,  he  was  perhaps 
away  at  Sea. 

13.  Mary  Parker  was  alfo  hanged  at  the  fame 
Time,  protefting  her  Innocence,  as  did  the  others, 
to  the  Laft.  She  belonged  to  Topsfield,  and  may 
have  been  no  Connection  of  Alice.  Their  Trials 
do  not  appear  among  the  Records. 

14.  John  Procter,  with  fix  others,  was  tried  on 
Auguft  5th,  condemned,  and  executed  Augufl 
19th  following.  He  was  committed  to  the 
Prifon  in  Bofton  on  the  nth  of  April  preceding. 
His  Refidence  was  at  Salem  Farms,  but  had  lived 
in  Ipfwich.  He  was  not  fent  to  the  Jail  there, 
doubtlefs  becaufe  he  had  many  Friends;  of  thefe, 
thirty-two  figned  a  Petition  for  his  Reprieve,  who 
gave  him  a  good  Character. 

15.  Ann  Pudeater  was  of  Salem.  Mr.  Upham 
thinks  her  Name  was  originally  or  really  Poin- 
dexter,  the  Widow  of  Jacob  Pudeater,  fuppofed  to 
have  been  about  feventy  Years  old  at  the  Time 
of  her  Profecution,  and  was  poflefled  of  confi- 
derable  real  Eftate  in  Salem,  where  fhe  refided 
She  was  brought  up  for  Examination  on  the  1 2th 
of  May,  and  again  on  the  2d  of  July,  and  then 
fent  to  Jail,  where  fhe  doubtlefs  lay  till  the  2 2d 
of  September,  when  (he  made  one  of  the  eight 
"Firebrands  of  Hell"  upon  the  Gallows,  as  the 
unfeeling  and  inhuman   Noyes  exprefled  himfelf. 

16.  Willmet   Redd  (fo  written  in  the  Records) 


1692  in  New  England.  199 

or  Wilmot  Reed  or  Read,  belonged  to  Marble- 
head.  Nothing  has  reached  us  concerning  this 
Perfon,  but  as  being  one  of  the  Firebrands  that 
perifhed  protefting  Innocence  to  the  laft.  There 
was  a  Read  Family  at  this  Period  in  Marble- 
head,  but  no  Chriftian  Name  appears  among 
them  of  Willmet  or  Wilmot. 

17.  Margaret  Scott  was  of  Rowley,  Widow, 
and  one  of  the  eight  Firebrands  who  fuffered  pro- 
tefting Innocence.  Of  her  Family  and  Con- 
nections we  have  met  with  Nothing,  beyond 
what  is  found  in  Gage's  Hi/lory  of  Rowley,  from 
which  it  feems  me  was  poor  _and  j)ld,  two  im- 
portant Conditioas  in  the  early  Profernfinns. 

1 8. "Samuel  Wardwell  was  of  Andover,  was 
hanged  on  the  2 2d  of  September  alfo.  He  con- 
ferred himfelf  Guilty,  and  on  this  and  fpe&er 
Teftimony  he  was  condemned.  Before  he  was 
fwung  off  he  fpoke  to  the  Multitude  of  Specta- 
tors, declaring  his  Innocence. 

19.  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Wildes,  of  Topsfield 
was  executed  on  the  19th  of  July,  having,  with 
four  others,  been  condemned  on  the  30th  of  June 
preceding.  She  was  arrefted  about  the  22d  of 
April,  and  imprifoned  till  her  Execution.  The 
gruff  Denunciations  and  Demand  to  confefs  of 
the  Court,  did  not  move  her,  and  fhe  died  firmly 
denying  all  Knowledge  of  the  Crime  for  which 
fhe  fuffered. 

20.  John  Willard,  of  Salem  Village,  had  been 
a  Deputy  in  making  Arrefts  for  Witchcraft,  until 
he  became  fatisfied  that  the  Perfons  accufed  were 


200  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

above  any  fuch  Sufpicion.  As  foon  as  his  De- 
cifion  was  known  to  the  mifcreant  Profecutors 
they  ''cried  out  on  him."  And  though  he 
attempted  to  fave  himfelf  by  Flight,  he  was  pur- 
fued,  brought  back,  tried,  and  executed  on  the 
19th  of  Auguft. 

Thus  have  been  briefly  noticed  thofe  that  were 
executed.  But  thofe  who  fuflfered  Everything  but 
Death,  and  fome  even  Death  itfelf,  in  difmal  Jails 
throughout  a  New  England  Winter,  cannot  be 
noticed  here,  but  the  Reader  will  find  all  he  can 
defire,  probably,  in  the  three  Volumes  of  The 
Witchcraft  Delufion,  &c,  published  by  Mr.  W. 
E.  Woodward,  in  1866,  and  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Up- 
ham's  Salem  Witchcraft,  publifhed  in  1867,  both 
already  mentioned. 

Of  many  of  the  Sufferers  very  little  is  known. 
Some,  and  perhaps  a  very  confiderable  Number, 
fled  to  other  Parts.  At  Ipfwich,  Rachel  Clinton 
or  Clenton,  Wife  of  Lawrence  Clinton,  was  be- 
fore the  Court  there,  and  there  is  a  Charge  for 
Fetters  (Irons)  having  been  made  for  her.  Alfo 
Mehitable,  wife  of  John  Downing,  was  arrefted 
on  the  23d  of  September,  but  was  releafed  on 
her  Hufband  giving  Security.  Profecutions  had 
begun  to  relax,  and  on  the  Day  following,  Mary, 
Wife  of  Hugh  Row,  Phebe,  Wife  of  Timothy 
Day,  and  Widow  Rachel  Dinfon,  all  of  Glou- 
cester, were  let  out  of  Ipfwich  Jail  on  Bail.  The 
following  named  Perfons,  all  of  Gloucefter,  alfo, 
were  brought  to  Ipfwich  Court  for  Examination, 
on  the   30th  of   October;  namely,  Efther,  Wife 


1692  in  New  England.  201 

of  Samuel  Elwell,  Rebeckah,  Wife  of  Richard 
Dike,  and  Abigail,  daughter  of  Hugh  Row. 
They  were  held  till  the  7th  of  November,  and 
then  fet  at  Liberty. 

Some  Others -of  Gloucefter  met  with  Trouble 
befides  thofe  mentioned  in  the  laft  Paragraph. 
One  Abigail  Soames  of  that  Town  was  taken  on 
a  Charge  of  Witchcraft,  fent  to  the  Jail  in  Bofton,  , 
and  there  incarcerated  from  the  23d  of  May, 
1692,  to  January  3d,  1693.  Nothing  is  found 
refpecting  whom  (he  was  accufed  of  bewitching, 
or  her  Examination.  She  was,  no  doubt,  among 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty  difcharged,  before 
mentioned. 

As  Di^Cotton  Mather  has  been  more  federate 
denounced^than  any  other  Perfon  connected  with 
the  Delufion  of  that  Period,  the  Reader  may 
wifh,  in  this  Connection,  to  fee  how  he  muffled 
out  of  it  after  the  Tempeft  had  fubfided.  To 
fay  the  leaft  of  it,  the  Author  has  mown  a 
Dexterity  not  furpafled  in  any  other  Cafe  with 
which  we  are  acquainted,  "of  carting  a  Mift" 
before  his  Readers'  Eyes,  by  which  he  hoped  to 
efcape  their  Animadverfions,  and  thus  to  pafs  on 
to  Futurity,  maintaining  a  Pofition  in  the  firft 
Rank  of  great  Men,  as  he  hitherto  feems  to  have 
done,  efpecially  in  his  own  Eftimation. 

He  wrote  in  1698:  "As  to  our  Cafe  at  Sa- 
lem, I  conceive  it  proceeded  from  fome  miftaken  - 
Principles;  as  that  Satan  cannot  affume  the  Shape 
of  an  innocent  Perfon,  and  in  that  Shape  do  mif- 
chief  to  the  Bodies  and  Eftates  of  Mankind; 
Aa 


202  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

and  that  the  Devil  when  he  doth  Harm  to  Per- 
fons  in  their  Body  or  Eftate,  it  is  (at  leaft,  moft 
commonly,  generally  and  frequently)  by  the  help 
of  our  Neighbour,  fome  Witch  in  Covenant  with 
the  Devil;  and  that  when  the  Party  fufpected 
looks  on  the  Parties  fuppofed  to  be  bewitched, 
and  they  are  thereupon  ftruck  down  into  a  Fit, 
as  if  ftruck  with  a  Cudgel,  it  is  a  Proof  of  fuch 
a  Covenant.      Cum  multis  aliis" 

And  again  :  "When  this  Profecution  ceafed, 
the  Lord  fo  chained  up  Satan,  that  the  Afflicted 
grew  prefently  well.  The  Accufed  are  generally 
quiet;  and  for  five  Years  fince,  we  have  no  fuch 
Moleftation  by  them."  He  had  previoufly  re- 
marked, that  "this  Matter  was  carried  on  chiefly 
by  the  Complaints  and  Accufations  of  the 
Afflicted  (bewitched  ones,  as  it  was  fuppofed)  and 
then  by  the  Confeffions  of  the  Accufed  con- 
demning themfelves  and  others.  Yet  Experience 
fhewed,  that  the  more  there  were  apprehended, 
the  more  were  ftill  afflicted  by  Satan;  and  the 
Number  of  Confeifors  increafing,  did  but  increafe 
the  Number  of  the  Accufed  ;  and  the  executing 
of  fome  made  way  for  the  apprehending  of 
others;  for  ftill  the  Afflicted  complained  of  being 
tormented  by  new  Objects,  as  the  Former  were 
removed.  So  thofe  that  were  concerned  grew 
amazed  at  the  Number  and  Quality  of  the  Per- 
fons  accufed,  and  feared  that  Satan  by  his  Wiles 
had  enwrapped  innocent  Perfons  under  the  Im- 
putation of  that  Crime.  And  at  laft  it  was  evi- 
dently feen  that  there  muft  be  a  Stop  put,  or  the 


1692  in  New  England.  203 

Generation  of  the  Children  of  God  would  fall 
under  that  Condemnation.  Henceforth,  there- 
fore, the  Juries  generally  acquitted  fuch  as  were 
tried,  fearing  they  had  gone  too  far  before."  l 

A  difinterefted  Spectator  could  hardly  have 
written  thus,  at  that  Day,  unlefs  he  had  really 
been  but  a  Spectator,  and  had  never  encouraged 
the  abominable  Proceedings.  Now,  when  it  is 
known  that  the  Author  was  a  confiderable  Pro- 
moter of  them,  his  "Mift"  becomes  too  tranf- 
parent  for  Concealment,  and  the  third  Perfon  can 
by  no  Ambidexterity  be  palmed  off  for  another. 

The  Account  of  the  Delufion  of  1692  will  be 
clofed  with  the  following  Indictments  and  Pro- 
ceedings againft  Mr.  Philip  Englifh,  of  Salem : 

"  Effex  in  the  Prouince  of  the  Maffachufetts 
Bay  in  New  England.     Ss. 

"Anno  R  Rs  and  Regino  Gulielmi  and  Maria 
Anglia,  &c.     Quarto:   Annoq.  Domini,  1692. 

"The  Jurors  for  or  Sour  Lord  and  Lady  the 
King  and  Queen,  doe  prefent,  that  Phillip  Englifh 
of  Salem,  in  the  County  of  Effex  Mrchant  vpon 
the  31ft  Day  of  May,  in  the  year  aforefaid,  and 
diuers  other  dayes  and  times  as  well  before  as 
after,  certaine  Deteftable  arts  called  Witchcraft 
and  forceries,  wickedly,  Malliftioufly  and  felloni- 
oufly  hath  vfed,  practiced  and  Exercifed,  at  and  in 

1  Michael  Wigglefworth  "  feared  Mather's  Letter  to  John  Richards, 

that  innocent  Blood  had  been  fhed,"  dated    May   31,    1692,    ffiould  be 

and  thus  wrote  to  Tncreafe  Mather,  read  in  this  Connection,  in  which 

in  1705,  the  fame  Year  in  which  he  makes  out  a  better  Cafe  than  in 

he    died,   and    makes   a    very    fair  our   Extract.     It  is  in  Colls.  Ms. 

Apology   for  the   Judges.     Cotton  Hift.  Soc,  XXX VIII,  391-7. 


204  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

the  Towne  of  Salem  in  the  County  of  Effex 
aforefaid,  in,  upon,  and  againft  one  Mary  Wall- 
cott  of  Salem  aforefaid,  fingle  Woman,  by  faid 
wicked  Acts  the  faid  Mary  Wallcott,  ye  Day  and 
Yeare  aforefaid,  and  diuers  other  dayes  and  Times, 
boath  before  and  after,  was  and  is  Tortured, 
afflicted,  Confumed,  Pined,  wafted  and  Tor- 
mented; againft  the  Peace  of  or  Sou1"  Lord  and 
Lady,  the  King  and  Queen,  their  Crowne  and 
dignity,  and  the  Lawes  in  that  Cafe  made  and  Pro- 
uided." 

Of  the  fame  Tenor  and  Date  there  is  another 
Draft  of  an  Indictment  againft  Mr.  Englifh  for 
bewitching  "one  Elizabeth  Booth  of  Salem." 
Both  of  thefe  are  endorfed,  "Ignoramus,"  and 
figned,  "Robert  Payne,  Foreman."  Hence 
thefe  Bills  were  thrown  out,  or  parted  as  not 
true  Bills,  although  Mr.  Englifh  was  arrefted  on 
the  fame  31ft  of  May,  and  fent  to  Bofton  and 
caft  into  Jail,  where  he,  with  his  Wife,  lay  fome 
fix  Weeks  or  more.  In  the  Meantime,  while 
other  Evidence  was  being  collected,  and  other 
Preparations  for  his  Trial  were  being  made,  he 
was  able,  through  the  Advice  and  Aid  of  Friends, 
to  efcape  from  Prifon.  He  fled  to  New  York, 
and  there  found  an  Afylum  till  the  Folly  and 
Madnefs  of  Profecutions  were  at  an  End. 

Thofe  Profecutions  did  not  ceafe  until  near  the 
End  of  April,  1693.  Among  our  original  Pa- 
pers we  find  the  following,  in  a  remarkably  neat 
Hand,    but    the    Writer  of   it    is    not    detected. 


1692  in  New  England.  205 

Robert  Payne,  the  Foreman  wrote  a  ftrange  Hand, 
judging  from  his  Signature. 

"The  Depofition  of  mercy  Lewis,  aged  8tene, 
this  Deponent  Teftifieth  and  faith  that  Laft  night 
Philip  Englifh  and  his  Wife  came  to  mee,  alfo 
Goodwife  Daften,  Eliz  Johnfon  and  old  pharo1 
of  Linn :  faid  Mrs.  Englifh  vrged  mee  to  fet  my 
Hand  to  a  Booke,  and  told  mee  fhe  would  Aflicl: 
mee  Dreadfully,  and  kill  mee  if  I  did  not;  fo 
alfo  if  I  would  but  touch  the  Booke  I  mould  bee 
well,  or  elfe  I  mould  never,  sd  mrs.  Englifh  sd 
fhe  might  bring  the  Book  now  fhe  thought  ever 
one  of  them  would  bee  cleared,  and  now  at  this 
prefent  time  before  the  Grandiury  sd  Philip 
Englifh,  his  Wife,  and  old  Pharoh,  came  into  the 
Roome,  or  their  fhape,  and  ftroke  mee  on  the 
Breft;  and  almoft  Choaked  mee,  and  sd  they 
would  ftrangle  mee  if  they  could. 

"owned  before  the  Grandiury  vpon  the  oath 
fhe  had  taken  Janre  12th  169I 

Attefts         Robert  Payne 

foreman" 

The  fame  Day  William  Beale  gave  his  Depo- 
fition againft  Mr.  Englifh.  He  had  on  the  pre- 
ceding Auguft  made  another,  both  of  which  will 
be  found  in  The  Witchcraft  Delufon,  &c,  Vol. 
Ill,  1 8 1-5,  preceded  by  an  Account  of  that 
Gentleman,  to  which  the  Reader  is  referred. 

1  This  u  Old  Pharo  "  wasaNe-  Names  were  Effex,  Prince  and  Ca- 

gro,  Slave  of  Zaccheus  Collins,  of  to. —  Lewis,  Hift.  Lynn,  Ed.  1865, 

Lynn.      Befides   Pharoah,    Collins  Page  344. 
owned  three   other   Slaves,    whofe 


206  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

Refpecting  thofe  who  faved  their  Lives  by 
confeffing  themfelves  Witches,  it  may  be  proper 
to  remark  that  fuch  Confeffions  were  wrung 
from  them  under  Circumftances  calculated  to 
excite  the  greateft  Pity  and  Commiferation  for 
thofe  who  made  fuch  Confeffions;  for  it  muft  be 
borne  in  Mind  that  all  Parties  believed  in  Witch- 
craft, and  that  fome  Perfons  muft  be  Witches, 
and  that  the  Troubles  complained  of  were  caufed 
by  them.  Imagine  feeble  Women  forced  from 
their  Families  and  caft  into  cold  and  damp  Pri- 
fons  with  heavy  Irons  upon  them !  Six  Females 
of  Andover  were  thus  cruelly  incarcerated.  It 
came  about  in  this  Wife.  The  Wife  of  one 
Jofeph  Ballard  was  taken  lick,  and  it  was  atonce 

'iurrm^STTfi 1  a  t  -ihe-was ._ hew i t c h ed, _Ta_find-o u t 

who  were  th^Witchj^J^y^^  " 

atjiilegj_were  b^oughrj^Andoyer_to  make  the 
'  Difcovery,  and  thus  ^comir^ncedjhe_^ljdireful 
Q^^^^^^^^h^^^^^^^nrfhx  what 
Time  the  fix  FernaleTwere  firft  fufpected  does 
not  appear  ;  but  thofe  in  Authority  ordered  them 
to  come  together  at  the  Meeting  houfe,  where, 
after  a  Prayer  was  had  by  the  Minifter,  the 
Accufed  were  blindfolded  and  led  up  to  the 
"  Aflidted  "  already  in  their  Fits.  The  fufpedted 
Females  being  thus  led  up  to  them  and  their 
Hands  placed  upon  them  by  their  Conductors, 
the  Afflicted  were  at  once  free  from  their 
Fits,  "and  faid  they  were  well.,,  Whereupon, 
fay  the  blindfolded,  "  we  were  all  feized  upon  as 
Prifoners,  by  a  Warrant  from  the  Juftice  of  the 


1692  in  New  England.  207 

Peace,"  hurried  off  to  Salem,  utterly  amazed  and 
aftoniihed,  and  "  affrighted  even  out  of  their 
Reafon."  Such  was  their  Introduction  to  Irons 
upon  their  Limbs,  and  a  near  Profpect  of  an 
ignominious  Death  upon  the  Gallows.  (^This  was 
their  Condition  when  Friends  befet  them  on 
every  Side  to  confefs  themfelves  Witches,  as  the 
only  Means  of  faving  their  Lives.  Hour  after 
Hour,  and  Day  after  Day,  they  were  befought  by 
dear  and  near  Kindred  and  Friends  to  confefs, 
until  they  were  worn  out  for  want  of  Reft 
and  Sleep.  IjLis^jipjMftrange_jJiaJL_thek  Minds 
wandered  until  they  imagined  they  experienced 
what  they  confeffed;  as  that  they  rode  through 
the  Air  on  Poles  to  certain  Rivers  or  Ponds, 
where  they  were  baptized  by  the  Devil ;  that 
they  had  figned  his  Book,  and  given  themfelves 
to  him  Soul  and  Body,  and  thus  bound  them- 
felves to  worfhip  him  ;  that  in  return  they  could 
command  him  to  afflict:  whomfoever  they  mould 
defignate.  \  Thefe  Things  being  embodied  in  the 
Indictments  were  a  Guide  to  Confeffions,  and 
were  forced  from  them  by  leading  Queftions.  A 
Cotemporary1  fays  he  is  fure  that  moft  of  the 
Charges  in  thofe  Indictments  "  would  be  better 
laid  againft  the  Judges  in  the  Oyer  and  Termi- 
ner/* for  that  thofe  Judges  "ferved,  if  they  did 
not  worfhip  the  Devil,  and  took  him  to  be  their 
God,  whether  they  figned  his  Book  or  not.  Had 
that  Book  been  brought  into  Courtt  as  it  ought 

1  Savage. 


2o8  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1692 

to  have  been,  or  the__Government  ^aJ1ej_on  to 
fhow^at  leaft,  what  Means  they  had  ufed  to  get 
the  precious  Record  to  the  open  View  of  the 
Jury,  the  Name  of  William  Stoughton,  and  more 
than  one  of  his  aflbciate  Judges,  I  doubt  not,  as 
clearly  as  that  of  any  of  the  Accufed,  would  have 
flared  in  the  fapphire  Blaze."  Such  an  Idea 
wrmjrj  naturally  ormr  to  any  ordinary  Lawyer j)f 
^mr— TimpQ^  Knt  the  Accufed  of  thofe  Days  had 
no  Connfel  to  demand  in  their  Behalf  that  the 
Book  ,he__  produced  in  Court.  //Had  fuch  a  De- 
mand been  made  it  would  doubtlefs  have  been 
fcouted  by  the  Judges.  Befidds,  we  are  told  by 
an  able  Lawyer1  of  that  Time  that  "  the  Devil 
could  not  be  lawfully  fummoned"  to  bring  his 
Book  into  Court. 

1700. 

/An  Execution   for   Witchcraft   took   place    in 
/Albany,  in  the  Year  1700,  related  in  a  Communi- 
ty cation  of  the  Earl  of  Bellomont  to  the  Lords  of 
(Trade  and  Plantations.     As  it  is  fufficiently  Con- 
/cife  for  our  Purpofe,  and  graphically  fketched,  it 
(   follows  in  his  own  Words: 

^  "Aquendero,  the  chief  Sachem  of  the  Onon- 
dage  Nation,  who  was  Prolocutor  for  all  the  Five 
Nations  at  the  Conference  I  had  two  Years  ago 
at  Albany,  has  been  forced  to  fly  from  thence, 
and  come  and  live  on  Coll.  Schuyler's  Land  near 
Albany.       Aquendero's    Son     is    poyfoned,    and 

1  Sir  Robert  Filmer. 


1700  in  New  York.  209 

languimes,  and  there  is  a  Sore  broke  but  on  one 
of  his  Sides,  out  of  which  there  comes  Handfulls 
of  Hair,  fo  that  they  recon  he  has  been  bewitched, 
as  well  as  poifoned. 

"I  met  with  an  old  Story  from  the  Gentlemen 
of  Albany,  which  I  think  worth  relating.     De- 
canniffore,  one  of  the  Sachems  of  the  Onondages, 
married  one  of  the   Praying   Indians   in   Canada 
(by  Praying  Indians  is  meant  fuch  as  are  inftrucled 
by   the  Jefuits).     This   Woman    was    taught   to 
poifon,    as   well    as    to    pray.     The    Jefuits   had 
furnifhed  her  with  fo  fubtill  a  Poifon,  and  taught 
her  a   Legerdemain  in  ufing  it,  fo  that  whoever 
fhe  had  a  Mind  to  poifon,  fhe  would  drink  to  'em 
a  Cup  of  Water,  and  let  drop  the  Poifon  from 
under  her  Nail  (which  are  always  very  long,  for 
the  Indians  never  pare  'em)  into  the  Cup.     This 
Woman  was  fo  true  a  Difciple  to  the  Jefuits,  that 
fhe  has  poifoned  a  Multitude  of  our  Five  Nations 
that  were  beft  affected  to  us.     She  lately  coming 
from   Canada   in   Company  of  fome  of  our   In- 
dians, who  went  to  vifit  their  Relations  in  that 
Country  who  have  taken  Sides  with  the  French; 
and,  there  being  among  others  a  Proteftant  Mo- 
hack    (a   proper   goodly   young   Man),  him   this 
Woman    poifoned    fo    that    he    died    two    Days 
Journey  fhort  of  Albany,  and  the  Magiftrates  of 
that    Town    fent    for    his    Body    and    gave  it    a 
Chriftian  Burial.     The  Woman  comes  to  Albany, 
where  fome  of  the  Mohacks  happening  to  be, 
and  among  'em  a  young  Man  nearly  related  to 
the   Man  that  had  been   poifoned,  who  efpying 
Bb 


210  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1706 

the  Woman,  cries  out  with  great  Horror,  that 
there  was  that  beaftly  Woman  that  had  poifoned 
fo  many  of  their  Friends,  and  it  was  not  fit  (he 
mould  live  any  longer  in  this  World  to  do  more 
Mifchief ;  and  fo  made  up  to  her,  and  with  a  Clubb 
beat  out  her  Brains."1 

Although  Lord  Bellomont  does  not  expreffly 
fay  he  was  himfelf  a  Believer  in  the  Exiftence  of 
Witches,  it  is  not  probable  that  he  would  have 
taken  fo  much  Pains  to  detail  this  Story  had  he 
not  imagined  that  thofe  to  whom  he  was  com- 
municating it  were  Believers. 


-^ 


1706. 

Few  more  difgraceful  Scenes  were  ever  enacted 
« •     i         in  the  Profecutions  for  Witchcraft,  either  in  Con- 
Jy\     A         nedticut  or  MarTachufetts,  than  this  which  took 
\  place  in  Virginia,  next  to  be  related.2 

There  lived  in  Princefs  Anne  County,  in  that 
Province,    a    Female    named    Grace    Sherwood. 

VThe  Court  of  that  County  fat   on   the   third  of 
January,    1706;  prefent   as   Juftices,  Beno.   Bur- 
y     £  roughs,  Col.  Mofely,  John  Cornick,  Capt.   Han- 

cock and  Capt.  Chapman.  On  Complaint  of 
tLuke  Hill  and  his  Wife,  a  Warrant  was  irTued 
fummoning  the  Woman  to  appear  at  the  next 
Court.  As  (he  did  not  appear  an  Attachment  was 
iffued  to  the  Sheriff  to  arreft  and  bring  her  there. 
According  to  the  Writ  the  Accufed  was  arraigned 

1  New  York  Colonial Documents,         -See    Barber.  —  Virginia   Hif- 
IV,  689.  tor  teal  Colls.,  and  Foreft's  Norfolk. 


1706  in  Virginia,  211 

on  the  7th  of  February  following,  "and  ye  Mat- 
ter being  after  a  long  Time  debated,  and  ordered 
yl  ye  faid  Hill  pay  all  Fees  of  this  Complaint, 
and  y*  ye  faid  Grace  be  here  next  Court  to  be 
fearched  according  to  ye  Complaint,  by  a  Jury  of 
Women  to  decide  ye  faid  difference,  and  ye  Sheriff 
is  likewife  ordered  to  fummon  an  able  Jury 
accordingly. " 

Nothing  further  feems  to  have  been  done  in 
this  Angular  Specimen  of  a  back-woods  Court  till 
the  7th  of  March  following.  The  Juftices  then 
prefent  were  Col.  Edward  Mofely,  Lieut.  Adam 
Thorrowgood,  Maj.  Henry  Sprat,  Capt.  Horatio 
Woodhoufe,  Mr.  John  Cornick,  Capt.  Henry 
Chapman,  Mr.  Wm.  Smith,  Mr.  John  Richefon, 
and  Capt.  Geo.  Hancock.  /'The  Jury  of  Women 
reported  that  they  had  fearched  Grace  Sherwood 
and  found  two  Things  like  "Titts,"  with  feveral 
other  Spots.  \  The  names  of  the  Women  are 
given  in  the  Records.  Here  the  Court  found 
itfelf  in  deep  Water,  and  adjourned  over  without 
coming  to  any  Decifion ;  but  on  the  2d  of  May, 
the  Record  ftates,  that  "whereas  a  former  Com- 
plaint was  brought  againfl:  Grace  Sherwood  for 
Sufpicion  of  Witchcraft,  which  by  ye  Attorney 
Generall  Tomfon's  Report  to  his  Excellency  in 
Council  was  too  generall  and  not  charging  her 
with  any  peticular  Ac~t;  therefore  reprefented  to 
them,  yc  Princefs  Ann  Court,  might,  if  they 
thought  fitt,  have  her  examined  de  novo ;  and  ye 
Court  being  of  Opinion  yz  there  is  great  Caufe  of 
Sufpicion,  doe  therefore  order  yt  ye  Sheriff  take 


212  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1706 

ye  faid  Grace  into  his  fafe  Cuftody,  until  fhe  (hall 
give  Bond  and  Security  for  her  Appearance  to  ye 
next  Court  to  be  examined  de  novo,  and  y*  ye 
Conftable  of  yc  Precinct  goe  with  ye  Sheriff  and 
fearch  ye  faid  Grace's  Houfe  and  all  fufpicious 
Places  carefully  for  all  Images  and  fuch  like 
Things." 

The  Examination  and  Search  by  the  Jury  of 
Women  feems  not  to  have  been  fatisfactory,  and 
the  fame  Jury  were  ordered  to  make  a  new  exa- 
mination and  to  report  at  the  next  Court.  But 
they  declined  the  Service,  and  a  new  Jury  of 
Women  was  empannelled. 

On  the  5th  of  July  (1706)  we  find  this  Record 
of  Proceedings:  "Whereas  for  this  [thefe] 
feverall  Courts  ye  Bufinefs  between  Luke  Hill 
and  Grace  Sherwood  on  Sufpicion  of  Witchcraft, 
have  been  for  feverall  Things  omitted,  particu- 
larly for  want  of  a  Jury  to  fearch  her,  and  ye 
Court  being  doubtfull  that  they  fhould  not  get 
one  ys  Court,  and  being  willing  to  have  all  means 
poffible  tryed,  either  to  acquit  her  or  to  give  more 
Strenth  to  ye  Sufpicion,  yr  me  might  be  dealt  with 
as  deferved." 

It  was  finally  decided  that  the  old  Englifh  Teft 
mould  be  put  in  Practice,  namely,  of  carting  the 
Accufed  into  the  Water.  "The  Sheriff  to  take 
all  fuch  convenient  Affiftance  of  Boats  and  Men, 
as  fhall  be  by  him  thought  fitt,  to  meet  at  Jno. 
Harper's  Plantacon,  in  order  to  take  ye  faid  Grace 
forthwith,  and  put  her  into  the  Water  above 
Mans  Depth,  and  try  her  how  me  fwims  therein." 


1706  in  Virginia.  213 

The  Executioners  were  ordered,  that  if  it  was 
found  that  fhe  would  fwim  to  be  careful  not  to 
drown  her,  and  as  foon  as  fhe  came  out,  "to  re- 
queft  as  many  antient  and  knowing  Women  as 
poffible  to  examine  her  carefully  for  Teats,  Spots 
and  Marks  about  her  Body  not  ufuall  on  others." 
The  Court  ordered  further,  "that  fome  Women 
be  requefted  to  fhift  and  fearch  her  before  fhe  goe 
into  ye  Water,  yf  fhe  carry  Nothing  about  her  to 
caufe  any  further  Serfpicion.  She  was  accordingly 
bound  and  caft  in,  and  being  found  to  fwim  was 
taken  out  again. 

There  feems  to  have  been  much  halting  in  the 
Cafe  of  the  poor  doomed  Woman,  this  laft  Re- 
cord being  under  the  10th  of  July.  Mejxtioa  jg 
made  of  many  WitnefTes  that  teftifiecf  again  ft  her, 
but  what  they  teltihed  to,  excepting  that  fhe  was 
a  Witch,  Nothing_jj2rTears1_  It  the  lellimony" 
was  written  down  it  was  not  probably  preferved; 
and  we  find  no  mention  of  the  Cafe  until  the 
15th  of  September  (1706)  when  "having  had 
fundry  Evidences  fworne,  proving  many  Cercum- 
ftances  againft  her  which  fhe  could  not  make 
any  Excufe,  or  little  or  nothing  to  fay  in  her  own 
Behalf,  only  feemed  to  rely  on  what  ye  Court 
fhould  doe;  and  thereupon  confented  to  be  tryed 
in  ye  Water,  and  likewife  to  be  fearched  againe, 
with  Experiments :  being  tryed,  and  fhe  fwiming 
when  therein,"  as  before  mentioned,  was  fearched 
again  "by  five  antient  Weamen,  who  all  declared 
on  Oath,  yc  fhe  is  not  like  them,  nor  no  other 
Woman  yl  they   knew  of;  having  two   Things 


I 


214  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1706 

like  Titts  on  her  private  Parts,  of  a  black  coller, 
being  blacker  than  ye  Reft  of  her  Body.  All 
which  Cercumftances  the  Court  weighing  in 
their  Confideracon,  doe  therefore  order  that  ye 
Sheriff  take  ye  faid  Grace  into  his  Cuftody,  and 
to  commit  her  Body  to  ye  common  Joal  of  this 
County,  their  to  fecure  her  by  Irons  or  other- 
wife,  there  to  remain  till  fuch  Time  as  he  mail 
be  otherwife  directed,  in  order  for  her  coming  to 
ye  common  Goal  of  ye  Countey  to  be  brought  to 
a  future  Tryall  there." 

What  became  of  Grace  Sherwood  does  not 
appear  to  be  known  to  the  People  of  the  Region 
where  fhe  was  experimented  upon.  A  Hiftorian 
of  an  adjacent  Part  of  the  Old  Domain  has  a 
very  brief  Notice  of  the  Trial,  which  he  fays  was 
a  very  Gr^^-lefs  Affair!  And  we  muft  be 
allowed  to  fay  that  it  is  our  deliberate  Opinion 
that  he  has  not  detailed  the  Subject  with  any 
Grace  at  all. 

Owing  to  the  mockingly  bungling  and  illite- 
rate Manner  in  which  the  Records  of  this  Affair 
appear,  it  is  not  eafy  to  conftruct  an  intelligent 
Narrative  out  of  them.  /But  one  Thing  is  very 
evident,  namely,  that  theN^ccufed  was  as  favagely 
and  perfiftently  purfued  as  .any  one  could  have 
been  fimilarly  circumftanced.  j  Amidft  it  all  there 
muft  have  been  Scenes  both  comical  and  highly 
ludicrous ;  imagine  a  Perfon  to  be  thrown  into  a 
Lake,  to  meet  a  watery  Grave,  provided  the 
Party  did  not  float  upon  its  Surface,  and  at  the 
fame  Time  the  Court  "ordering  the  Sheriff  not 


17 1 2  in  South  Carolina.  215 

to  expofe  her  to  the  Rain,  as  me  might  take? 
Cold,  ye  Weather  being  very  rainy  and  bad" !      / 

The  Trial  of  Jinking  or  fwimming  was  ordered 
on  the  5th  of  July,  but  it  did  not  then  take 
place,  probably  by  Reafon  of  the  Inability  of  the 
Sheriff  to  get  a  Jury  of  Women  to  attend  to  the 
delicate  Duties  affigned  them. 

The  Place  where  Trial  by  Water  was  made  is 
an  Inlet  of  Lynnhaven  Bay,  in  Princefs  Anne 
County,  and  known  to  this  Day  as  Witch  Duck. 


1712. 

In- South  Carolina^jis  late  as  171 2,  the  Law 
"againft  Conjuration.  Witchcraft,  and  dealing 
.with  evil  and  wicked  Spirits."  was  declared  to  be 
in  force.  It  is  quite  probable  that  fome  Cafes  of 
Witchcraft  had  occurred  among  fome  of  the 
South  Carolinians,  which  caufed  the  Revival  of 
the  Act  of  James  the  Firft;  but  what  they  were, 
and  how  extenfive,  we  .have  no  Means  at  Hand 
to  determine,  as  their  Chroniclers  are  filent  upon 
the  Subject.  But  one  Thing  is  very  certain,  and 
that  is,  if  they  did  not  raife  Witches  down  there, 
they  raifed  the  Devil  very  early. 
dAbout  this  Period  fome  fufpected  of  Witch- 
craft were  feized  upon  by  a  fort  of  ruffianly 
Vigilance  Committee,  and  condemned  to  be 
burnt ;  and  were  actually  roafted  by  Fire,  although 
we  do  not  learn  that  the  Injuries  thus  inflicted 
proved  fatal.  The  Parties  fo  tortured,  or  their 
Friends,  brought  an  Action  in  the  regular  Courts 


216  Annals  of  Witchcraft  1720 

for  the  Recovery  of  Damages,  but  the  Jury  gave 
them  Nothing  vS 

1720. 

There  was  a  Cafe  of  Witchcraft  (as  fuppofed) 
in  the  then  fparfely  fettled  and  out  of  the  way 
Town  of  Littleton,  in  Middlefex  County,  MarTa- 
chufetts,  in  1720,  which  was  quite  as  formidable 
in  its  firft  Stages  as  that  was  in  Salem  Village,  but 
it  was  too  late  in  the  Century  for  it  to  make 
much  Headway,  and  the  Inhabitants  were  too 
few  to  allow  it  to  fpread  over  any  confiderable 
Territory.  The  Names  of  thofe  who  were 
Actors  in  it  are  fuppreffed  in  the  Materials  ufed, 
and  not  much  Pains  have  been  taken  to  recover 
them.  The  principal  Impoftor  having  removed 
to  Medford  in  the  fame  County,  a  few  Years 
after  the  Affair  had  blown  over,  offered  herfelf  as 
\*  a  Candidate  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ebenezer  TurelPs 

\  Church    there.      Her    "Experience"    was    con- 

fidered  fatisfactory,  and  fhe  was  about  to  take  her 
Place  among  the  Members,  when,  in  the  Mean- 
time, the  reverend  Minifter  preached  a  Sermon, 
the  Burthen  of  which  was,  that  Liars  would  go 
ftraight  to  Hell,  be  caft  into  a  Lake  of  Fire  and 
Brimftone,  and  there  to  feethe  for  ever  and  ever, 
and  fo  forth.  Happening  to  hear  this  Difcourfe 
fhe  was  overcome  with  Remorfe,  fuppofing  the 
Preacher  had  her  Cafe  in  his  Mind.  So,  in  great 
Tribulation  fhe  went  to  him,  deeply  bewailing 
her  Deception,  made  a  new  Confeffion,  and   in 


1728  in  New  England.  217 

due  Time  was  admitted  into  the  Church,  and  for 
aught  that  has  appeared  to  the  Contrary,  lived  a 
confiftent  Chriftian  Life  ever  after. 

As  in  the  Cafes  of  the  Goodwin  Children  of 
Bofton,  and  thofe  of  the  Paris  Family  at  Salem, 
thofe  of  Littleton  were  the  three  Daughters  of 
"one  J.  B.,"  whofe  Ages  ranged  five,  nine  and 
eleven  Years^One  of  thefe  (probably  the  oldeft) 
went  to  refide  at  Medford,  as  juft  mentioned. 
She  told  all  the  Circumftances  t6  Mr.  Turell, 
who  wrote  them  down.  The  Paper  thus  drawn 
up  was  in  the  Hands  of  Governor  Hutchinfon 
when  he  was  preparing  his  Hijiory  of  Majfachu- 
fetts,  who  has  given  a  Synopfis  of  it  in  that 
Work.1 

1728. 

There  were  doubtlefs  fome  unaccountable 
Tranfactions  in  the  Colony  of  Rhode  Ifland 
which  caufed  the  Authorities  there  to  enact  or 
reenact  the  Law  "againft  Conjuration,  Witch- 
craft, and  dealing  with  evil  and  wicked  Spirits; 
that  Witchcraft  is  and  mall  be  Felony;  and 
whofoever  ihall  be  lawfully  convicted  thereof^ 
fhall  fuffer  the  Pains  of  Death. " 


It  is  here  propofed  to  fufpend  thefe  Refearches. 
They  might  eafily  be  carried  to  a  much  later 
Period,  and  pretty  ferious  Cafes  too  might  be  de- 

1  See  Vol.  II,  Pages  20  and  21,  Edition,  Bofton,  1767. 

Cc 


218  Annals  of  Witchcraft.         1728 

tailed,  but  what  has  been  done  will  probably  be 
as  much  as  will  ever  be  read.  The  Intereft  of 
the  Publick  will  decide  that  Queftion.  If  more 
is  wanted,  it  may  be  forthcoming  in  future  Edi- 
tions. 


APPENDIX. 


No.  I. 

XAMINATION  of  Hugh  Parfons,  of  Spring- 
field,  on  a  Charge  of  Witchcraft,  and  the 
Teftimonies  given  againft  him,  before  Mr. 
William  Pynchon,  at  Springfield,   1651. 

[Notk. — The  Figures  in   Brackets  denote  the  Paging  of  the  original  Manufcript, 
which  having  been  put  together  wrong,  was  paged  before  the  mifplacing  was  detected.] 

[21]    Hugh  Parfons  Examinations.     All  thefe  Tefti- 
monies now  taken  vpon  Oath 

Before  me,  William  Pynchon. 

[23]    The    Examination  of   Hugh   Parfons.   1.  d.  of 
[March?]  and  his  2d  Exam.  yc  [obliterated]. 

HUGH  PARSONS  you  are  attached  upon  Suf- 
pition  of  Witchcraft. 
George  Lankton1  and  Hannah  his  Wife  do  ioyntly 
teftifie  vpon  Oath:  that  on  ffriday  laft,  being  the  21 
ffebruary,  they  had  a  Pudding  in  ye  fame  Bagg,  and 
that  as  foone  as  it  was  flipped  out  of  the  Bag,  it  was 
cut    lengthwife  like  the   former    Pudding,*   and    like 

1  Lang  ton,  or  perhaps  Langdon  was  a  Widow  of  Edmund  Haynes. 

was  the  original  family  Name,  but  2  The    whole    Story    about    the 

they  have  long  been  diftindt..    This  cutting  of  Puddings  is   fet  in   the 

George  was  an  Emigrant.    His  Wife  laft  Leaf. — Note  by  Mr.  Pynchon. 


220  Appendix. 

another  on  ye  23  ffeb.  as  fmooth  as  any  Knife  could 
cut  it,  namely,  one  Slice  al  alonge,  wantinge  but  very 
litle,  from  End  to  End. 

Alfo  Hannah  the  Wife  of  George  Lancton  faith 
vppon  Oath,  that  a  Neighbor  came  in,  and  me  mowed 
it  to  him,  and  that  Neighbor  took  a  Peece  of  it  and 
threw  into  the  Fier:  and  me  faith  that  about  an  Hower 
after,  phapps  a  little  more,  me  herd  one  mutter  and 
mumble  at  the  Dore;  then  me  afked  Goody  Sewell 
who  was  then  at  her  Houfe  (and  neere  ye  Dore)  who 
it  was,  fhe  faid  it  was  Hugh  Parfons,  and  that  he 
afked  whether  Goodman  Lankton  were  at  Home  or 
no.  I  faid  no,  and  fo  he  went  away,  but  left  not  his 
Arrand,  neather  did  he  euer  fince  come  to  fignifie  his 
Arrand. 

Depofed  in  Corte  by  Hanna  [Lankton]. 

Hugh  Parfons  being  afked  what  his  Anfwer  was: 
he  fpake  to  other  Thinges  and  not  to  the  Queftion,1 
being  afked  the  2d  Tyme  what  his  Arrand  was,  he 
fpake  againe  of  other  by  Matters,  and  not  to  the 
Queflion:  being  afked  the  3d  Tyme  what  his  Arrand 
was,  and  charged  to  make  a  direct  Anfwer,  then  he 
faid  it  was  to  gett  fome  Hay  of  him.  Being  afked 
againe  whether  he  had  ppounded  his  Arrand  fince  to 
Goodman  Lankton;  he  faid  he  never  faw  him  fince. 
Then  one  or  two  that  were  prefent  teftified  that  they 
fee  him  meete  Goodman  Lancton  next  Day  below.2 
Symon  Bemon3  and  Rice  Bodorthe*  fay  vppon  Oath, 


1  Pity  we  are  deprived  of  know-  4  Savage  did  not  find  the  Name 
ing  thofe  "  other  Things."  thus  fpelled,  but  over  Rice  he  raifes 

2  At  fome  Point  down  the  River.  ™«fidtei*hle  Mift.  Judd  (no  Doubt) 

told   him   that  Rice  was  the  Father 

3  A  Name  fince  written  Beaman.  of  John,  who  "was  drowned,  18 
Savage  has  "ftrangely"  mixed  the  Mar.  1683,  with  his  f.  and  Lydia, 
Families  of  "Beamond,  Beamon,  w.  of  his  br.  Jofeph,  and  Mercy, 
and  Beaman.  d.  of  his  br.  Samuel." 


Appendix.  221 

that  the  next  Day  but  one  they  faw  Hugh  Parfons 
meete  Goodman  Lankin  accompanied  wth  Thomas 
Sewell1  in  the  Streete,  and  that  they  faw  him  fpeak  to 
Goodman  Lanketon. 

George  Lancton  faith  on  Oath  that  he  neuer  to  this 
Day  afked  him  for  any  Hay. 

When  Hugh  Parfons  faw  himfelf  taken  tardy  [24] 
in  this  put  of,  then  he  faid  that  he  did  not  afk  him 
becaufe  John  Lumbard  had  tould  him  that  Goodman 
Lankton  had  fould  more  Hay  to  Goodman  Herman 
than  he  could  fpare.      But  after  inquiry 

John  Lumbard2  faith  vppon  oath,  March  17,  1650, 
That  the  Wednefday  before  that  Hugh  Parfons  came 
to  Goodman  Lanktons  Houfe  for  Hay,  that  he  had 
fpeoken  to  buy  fome  Hay  of  Goodman  Lankton, 
namly  as  he  paffd  by  where  he  and  Hugh  Parfons 
were  at  Worke  together,  and  had  a  Deniall ;  and  then 
he  tould  Hugh  Parfons  that  Goodman  Lankton  could 
not  fpare  him  any  Hay,  for  he  had  already  fould  more 
to  Goodm  Herman3  than  he  could  fpare,  and  faid  he 
mould  now  want  himfelf. 

John  Lumbard  alfo  faith  on  Oath,  that  ye  ffriday 
after,  when  the  faid  Pudding  was  fo  ftrangely  cut,  he 
tould  Hugh  Parfons  that  Lancton  had  no  Hay  to  fell. 
Hugh  Parfons  not  being  able  to  replie  any  further,  it 
is  evident  that  his  coming  to  ye  Dore  of  Goodman 
Lankton  prfently  after  the  burning  of  the  Pudding, 
wch  was  the  next   Day  after  Jo.   Lumbard  had  tould 

1  To  what  Family  of  Sewell  or  found  at  Springfield,  1646  ;  the 
Sewall  he  belonged  has  not  been  next  Year,  Sept.  1 ,  he  was  at  New 
found.  Savage  guefles  he  left  Haven,  where  he  married  Joanna 
Springfield  foon  after  the  Birth  of  Pritchard.—  Savage. 

a  Dau.  (Abigail)  14  March,  1650, 

but  where  he  went,  or  "  whence  he  3  A  Family  named  Harman  came 
came  is  wholly  uncertain."  to  N.  England  in  1635,  in  the  Ship 

Love.     This  was  probably   John 

2  Since  fpelt  Lombard.     John  is     Herman. 


222  Appendix. 

him  that  he  had  no  Hay  to  fpare,  that  his  Arrand  to 
gett  Hay  was  no  true  Caufe  of  his  coming  Thither 
but  rather  that  ye  Spirit  that  bewitched  the  Pudding 
brought  him  thither.1 

Mary  Parfons  being  pfent  at  ye  2d  Examination, 
faith,  one  Reafon  why  I  have  fufpected  my  Hufband 
to  be  a  Witch  is  becaufe  all  that  he  fells  to  Anybody 
doth  not  profper.  I  an  forry  faid  fhe  for  that  pore 
Man,  Tho.  Millar,2  for  two  Dayes  after  my  Huf- 
band and  he  had  bargained  for  a  Peec  of  Ground 
Thomas  Millar  had  that  Mifchance  of  that  Cutt  in 
his  Legg. 

[25]  Thomas  Millar  being  psent,  faith  vppon  Oath, 
that  he  being  in  Company  with  feuerall  other 
Workemen  about  Tymber  Trees  in  the  Woods,  as  we 
were  at  Dinner,  and  merry  together,  Hugh  Parfons 
fatt  on  a  Bow  fomewhat  higher  then  the  Reft.  Then 
one  of  the  Company  ftarted  this  Queftion:  I  wonder 
why  he  fitts  there:  Thomas  Millar  faith  he  anfwered, 
To  fee  what  we  have:  and  then  I  began  to  fpeak  of 
the  cuttinge  of  the  Puddinge  in  Towne. 

Thomas  Cooper3  being  pfent  wth  the  faid  Work- 
men, faith,  that  he  was  much  troubled  in  his  Minde 
becaufe  Thomas  Millar  fpake  fo  plainely  to  Hugh 
Parfons  leafl  fome  ill  Euent  mould  follow. 

And  both  Tho.  Cooper  and  Thomas  Millar  fay 
vppon  Oath,  that  Hugh  Parfons  was  as  merry  and  as 
pleafant  before  this  Speeche  about  the  Pudding  as  any 

1  As  though  the  Devil  could  not  the  Indians,  Oftober  5th,  1675. — 
bewitch   a   Pudding  without  being     Spring f  eld  Records. 

on  the  Spot! 

2  He  was  probably  an  Emigrant,  3  The  fame  afterwards  (5  Oct., 
although  at  what  Time  he  came  1675)  killed  by  the  Indians,  as  he 
over  is  not  known.  His  Wife  was  was  paffing  from  one  Garrifon  to 
Sarah,  Daughter  of  Thomas  Marfh-  another. — See  I.  Mather,  Brief 
field,  of  Springfield,  whom  he  mar-  His.,  p.  98,  Note  ;  and  Hubbard, 
ried  in   1649.     He  was  killed  by  I,  107,  121 ;  11,44. 


Appendix.  223 

in  the  Company,  but  after  this  he  was  wholly  filent, 
and  fpake  not  a  Word  in  replie  about  ye  Pudding: 
but  fatt  dumb:  and  Tho.  Millar  faith  that  about  half 
a  Quarter  of  an  Hower  after,  at  his  firft  fettinge  to 
Worke,  his  Legg  was  cutt. 

April  3.  1651.  Thomas  Burneham1  faith  vppon 
Oath  that  he  faid  to  Hugh  Parfons  a  Little  before  his 
Apprhenfion:  here  is  ftrange  Doings  in  Towne  about 
cutting  of  Puddings,  and  whetting  of  Sawes  in  ye 
Night  Tyme  :  Hugh  Parfons  herd  thefe  Thinges  much 
agitated  among  diuers  then  p'fent,  and  was  wholly 
filent,  but  at  laft  he  faid,  I  never  herd  of  this  Thinge 
before  this  Night.  Thomas  Burneham  faith  he  faid  to 
him,  that  is  ftrange,  that  you  fhould  not  here  of  thes 
Thinges:  and  I  being  but  a  Stranger  in  Towne,  doe 
here  of  it  in  all  Places  whereuer  I  come:  Att  this 
Hugh  Parfons  held  down  his  Head  and  was  wholly 
filent,  but  he  tooke  Occafion  to  fpeak  of  other  by 
Matters,  as  pleafantly  as  Anybody  elfe,  but  to  the 
Matter  of  the  Pudding  he  would  fay  Nothing:  and  yet 
faith  Thomas  Burneham,  I  fpake  to  him  of  it  feuerall 
Tymes,  and  of  ye  whettinge  of  Sawes  on  purpofe  to 
fee  what  Hugh  Parfons  would  fay  to  it,  but  ftill  he 
continued  fylent,2  and  would  not  fpeak  any  Thinge 
about  thefe  Thinges.  Then  Goodman  Mun  beinge 
psent  faid  I  would  yl  thofe  that  whet  Sawes  in  the 
night  Tyme,  and  on  ye  Lordes  Dayes,  were  found  out: 
Then  faith  Thomas  Burnham,  I  faid,  you  Sawyers 
you  had  need  to  look  to  it :  Hugh  Parfons  being  alfo 
a  Sawyer,   never  returned  any   Anfwer,  but  ftill  con- 

1  He  happened  to  be  at  Spring-  tures  may  not  be  very  fatisfactory. 
field  at  this  Time,  but  probably  did 

not  remain  long.     Where  he  came  2  That  any  fenfible  Man  fhould 

from,  or  where  he  went  to,  is  alike  have  been  filent  at  the  Repetition 

unknown.     He  may  have  been  of  of  fuch  childifh  and  contemptible 

the   Ipfwich  Family,    but  Conjee-  Nonfenfe  is  not  at  all  ftrange. 


224  Appendix. 

tinued  filent:  This  Matter  about  the  Puddinge  and 
whetting  of  Sawes  was  often  toffed  vp  and  downe  be- 
tweene  feuerall  Psons,  and  many  faid  they  neuer  herd 
ye  like:  and  Hugh  Parfons  was  often  fpoken  to,  in 
pticular,  and  afked  if  he  euer  herd  ye  like,  but  ftill  he 
continued  wholly  filent. 

Joane,  the  Wife  of  William  Warrener,1  and  Abigail 
yc  Wife  of  Goodman  Munn,2  being  psnt  when  the  faid 
fpeeches  were  vfed,  do  acknowledg  that  they  rember 
all  Thinges  that  haue  bin  related  by  Thomas  Burn- 
ham,  and  that  Hugh  Parfons  was  wholly  fylent,  and 
do  teftifie  the  fame  vppon  Oath,  the  Day  and  Yere 
aboue  faid. 

[27]  2dly  Blanche  Bodorthe  3  faith  on  Oath,  ffeb. 
27,  and  March  ift.  and  March  18,  1649.  That 
about  two  Yeeres  fince,  Hugh  Parfons  being  at  ower 
Houfe,  we  had  fome  Speeches  about  a  Bargaine  wth 
my  Hufband  about  fome  Brickes:  and  then  Blanch 
Bodorthe  faith  that  me  fpake  Somethinge  about  the 
faid  Bricks  that  did  much  difpleafe  Hugh  Parfons: 
Therevppon  he  faid  vnto  me,  Gammer,  you  neded 
not  haue  faid  Anythinge,  I  fpake  not  to  you,  but  I 
(hall  remember  you  when  you  little  think  on  it. 

Alfo  Rice  Bodorthe  faith  vppon  Oath,  that  he 
took  Notice  of  the  faid  Threatninge,  and  was  much 
offended  at  it,  and  tould  Hugh  Parfons  that  it  was  no 
good   Speech;   but   I    haue  often   herd  him   vfe   fuch 

1  Suppofed  to  be  the  Freeman  ferved  in  the  Pequot  War  ;  re- 
of"  1638.  His  Wife's  maiden  moved  to  Springfield,  where  he 
Name  was  Searl,  or  Something  like  married  Abigail  (Ball)  Burt.  See 
it,  as  Genealogifts  cannot  agree  Savage,  III,  254.  The  Name  is 
about  it,  and  their  great  Arbiter  lefs  common  than  many  others, 
does  not  obtrude  a  Decifion.      They 

call  her  Joanna.  s  Her  maiden  Name  was  Lewis, 

married  Rice  Bodortha,    1646.     It 

2  Doubtlefs  Benjamin  Munn,  will  be  remembered  that  Parfons's 
previoufly  of   Hartford,  who  had     Wife  was  a  Lewis. 


Appendix.  225 

Threatninge,  both  againft  myfelf  and  others  when  he 
hath  bin  difpleafed. 

Blanch  Bodorthe  tooke  Oath  in  Corte  to  all  fhe 
witnefleth. 

[28]  Samuell  Marfhfeild1  being  alfo  psent  at  ye  fame 
Tyme,  testifies  vppon  Oath,  that  he  herd  Hugh 
Parfons  vfe  the  faid  threatninge  Speech  to  Blanche 
Bodorthe. 

At  this  Hugh  Parfons  was  wholy  filent  and  anfwered 
not. 

Then  I  tould  him  of  fome  euill  Euents  that  did 
follow  not  longe  after  this  Threatninge. 

Samuell  Marfhfeild  teftifieth  in  Cort. 

Blanch  Bodorthe  doth  teftifie  vppon  Oath,  that 
foone  after  this  threatninge  Speech,  as  me  was  going 
to  Bedd,  and  had  put  of  her  Waftcote  made  of  red 
fhag  Cotten,  and  as  fhe  was  going  to  hang  it  vp  on  a 
pin,  fhe  held  it  vp  betweene  her  Hands,  and  then  fhe 
faw  a  Light  as  it  had  bin  the  Light  of  a  Candle, 
cro fling  the  back  of  her  Waftcote,  on  the  Infide,  three 
Tymes,  one  after  anothef,  at  wch  fhe  was  amazed:  and 
therefore  fhe  faith,  that  after  fhe  had  laid  it  downe, 
fhe  tooke  it  vp  againe  to  try  if  ye  Fierlight  might  not 
be  the  Caufe  of  it,  but  fhe  faith  that  the  Fierlight 
being  all  one  as  it  was  before,  fhe  could  not  prciue 
any  fuch  Light  by  it,  and  befides  fhe  faith  it  could  not 
be  the  Fierlight,  becaufe  there  was  a  double  Indian 
Matt  compacting  the  Bedd  and  the  Place  where  fhe 
was,  fo  that  it  could  not  be  the  Fierlight,  for  this 
double  Matt  was  betwixt  her  and  the  Fier:  and  fhe 
faith  moreouer  that  becaufe  this  Light  was  fo  ftrange 
to  her,  fhe  took  her  Waftcote  feuerall  other  Nights  to 

1  He  married  Either,  Daughter  who  was  fuppofed  to  have  been  loft 
of  Samuel  Wright,  18  Feb.,  1652;  at  Sea.  The  Name  is  uniformly 
was  Son  of  Thomas    Marfhfield,     MarlhfWld  in  the  Manufcript. 

Dd 


226  Appendix, 

try  if  ye  Fierlight  would  not  giue  fuch  a  Light  as  fhe 
faw  at  firft,  and  held  it  vp  ye  fame  Way  that  me  did  at 
firft  but  me  faith  me  could  not  prciue  any  fuch  Light 
afterwarde. 

[29]  2dly.  About  a  Month  after  this,  fhe  faith  that  when 
me  was  in  Child  Bed:  and  as  well  as  moft  Women 
vfe  to  be,  and  better  then  fhe  vfed  to  be:  yet  at  the 
Weeks  end  being  defirous  to  fleepe,  fhe  lay  ftill,  that 
fhe  might  fleepe,  and  fhe  did  fleepe:  and  yet  about  an 
Hower  or  more  after,  fhe  awaked,  and  felt  a  SorenefTe 
about  her  Hart,  and  this  SorenefTe  increafed  more  and 
more  in  three  Places,  namely  vnder  her  left  Breft,  and 
on  her  left  Shoulder,  and  in  her  Necke:  and  in  thefe 
three  Places,  the  Paine  was  fo  tedious,  that  it  was  like 
the  pricking  of  Knifes,  fo  that  I  durft  not  lie  downe, 
but  was  faint  to  be  fhored  vp  wth  a  Bagg  of  Cotten 
Wool,  and  with  other  Thinges:  and  this  Extremity 
continued  from  Friday  in  the  Forenoone  till  Monday 
about  Noone,  and  then  the  Extremity  of  the  Paine 
began  a  little  to  abate,  and  by  Tufday  it  was  pritty 
well  gon  :  and  fuddenly  after,  my  Thoughtes  were, 
that  this  Euill  might  come  vppon  me  from  the  faid 
threatning  Speech  of  Hugh  Parfons. 

I  do  not  apprhend  that  I  was  fick  in  any  other  pl 
of  my  Body,  but  in  the  faid  three  Places  only,  and  by 
the  Extremity  of  thefe  Prickinges  only. 

The  Widdow  Marfhfeild1  teftifies  vppon  Oath, 
March  22,  1650,  that  when  fhe  kept  (?)  in  Rice  Bo- 
dorthes  Wife,  fhe  was  not  there  in  ye  Night,  but  in  the 
Daytyme  only  :  when  I  went  Home  at  Night  I  left  her 
well,  as  could  be  expected  of  a  Woman  in  Child  Bed, 
but  in  the  Morning  when  I  came  fhe  was  in  lamenta- 
ble Torment;  fhe  grew  worfe  and  worfe  for  two  or 
three   Dayes,    and   fhe    cryed    out   as   if   fhe   had   bin 

1  Perhaps  the  Widow  of  Thomas  Marfhfield.     See  Note,  ante. 


Appendix.  227 

pricked  with  Knifes  in  fuch  a  lamentable  Manner  that 
I  did  much  feare  her  Life:  I  neuer  faw  a  Woman  in 
fuch  a  Condition  in  Child  Bed,  for  fhe  could  not  lie 
downe  in  her  Bed,  neather  doe  I  aperhend  that  fhe 
had  any  other  Kind  of  Sickneffe,  but  that  pricking 
Paine  only  in  her  Side  and  Shoulder. 

3ly.  Blanch  Bodorthe  faith  vppon  Oath,  that  my 
Child  being  about  two  Yeeres  ould,  as  he  was  ftanding 
neere  to  his  Father,  did  haftily  run  to  him,  and  firmed 
to  gett  vp  vppon  his  Knees,  and  cryed  I  am  afraide 
of  the  Dogg,  and  yet  there  was  no  Dogg  there:  his 
ffather  afked  him  where  the  Dogg  was,  he  faid  it  was 
goun  vnder  the  Bedd:  his  ffather  afked  him  whofe 
Dogg  it  was  :  [30]  he  faid  it  was  Lumbardes  Dogg: 
his  ffather  faid  that  Lumbard  had  no  Dogg:  yn 
he  faid  again  it  was  Parfons  Dogg:  but  ye  Child's 
Meaning  was  at  firft  that  it  was  Parfons  Dogg:  I 
know  it  by  this  becaufe  when  Parfons  did  after  vfe  to 
come  to  ower  Howfe  he  did  often  cale  him  Lumbard: 
and  euer  and  anon  he  is  much  afFrited  with  this  Dogg, 
and  doth  often  fpeak  of  it :  and  yet  Parfons  hath  no 
Dogg,  neather  was  there  any  Dogg  in  the  Howfe: 
but  the  Earneftneffe  of  ye  Child,  both  then  and  fince, 
doth  make  me  conceiue  it  might  be  fome  euill  Thing 
from  Hugh  Parfons. 

Hugh  Parfons  hauing  herd  all  thes  Teflimonies 
alledgd,  flood  ftill  at  his  2d  Examination,  as  at  ye  firft, 
and  made  no  Anfwer. 

Rice  Bodorthee  faith  vppon  Oath,  that  euer  fince  ye 
firft  Tyme  the  Child  was  afraid  of  this  Dogg  he  will 
often  fpeak  of  it  and  point  at  it  wth  fuch  Earneftneffe 
that  he  hath  often  made  me  afraid  wth  his  earneft 
pointing  at  it;  fometymes  he  faith  it  is  there  vunder 
the  Stoole,  and  fometymes  it  is  there  vnder  the  Cradle, 
and  fo  vnder  other  Places. 
[31]   3^.  Your  Wife  faith  that  fhe  fufpects  you  may 


228  Appendix. 

be  ye  Caufe  of  all  the  Euill  that  is  befallen  to  Mr. 
Moxons  Childerne,  becaufe  when  fhe  hath  fpoken  to 
you  about  the  Bargaine  of  Bricks  that  you  vendertook 
to  make  for  Mr.  Moxons  Chimnies,  and  that  fhe 
thought  Mr.  Moxon  would  expecT:  the  pformance  of 
the  faid  Bargaine:  therevppon  you  faid,  if  Mr.  Moxon 
do  force  me  to  make  Brickes  according  to  Bargaine, 
I  will  be  euen  with  him,  or  he  mail  get  Nothinge  by 
it,  for  fhe  faith  that  thes  two  Speeches  are  very  vfuall 
with  you  when  you  are  difpleafed  wth  any  Body. 

Anfr.  Hugh  Parfons  faith,  I  faid  not  that  I  would 
be  euen  wth  him,  but  this  I  faid,  if  he  would  hould  me 
to  my  Bargaine,  I    could  puffle  him  in  the  Bargaine. 

John  Mathewes1  being  psent,  faith  vppon  Oath, 
that  when  he  went  with  Hugh  Parfons  to  fetch  fome 
of  his  Jannell  (?)  Brickes,  he  faid  to  Hugh  Par- 
fons, doe  not  you  make  more  Brickes  for  Mr.  Mox- 
ons Chimnies,  he  will  flay  with  vs  now,  and  then  I 
beleue  he  will  haue  vp  his  Chimnies:  Hugh  Parfons 
faid,  no,  that  I  know  of,  then  faid  I,  Mr.  Moxon  will 
hould  you  to  your  Bargane  about  the  faid  Brickes ; 
then  faid  he,  if  he  doe,  I  will  be  euen  with  him:  And 
when  Hugh  Parfons  made  my  Chimnies  he  did  often 
vfe  the  fame  Speech  :  and  when  he  is  difpleafed  wth 
any  Body  it  is  his  vufuall  Speech. 

At  ys  Teftimony  of  Jo:  Mathewes  Hugh  Parfons 
was  filent  and  made  no  Replie. 

Mr  Moxon  being  psent,  faith  the  fame  Week  that 
I  fpake  to  Hugh  Parfons  about  the  Brickes,  and  to  his 
Wife  about  another  BufinefTe,  my  Efaughter  Martha 
was  taken  ill  wth  her  Fittes.  I  confefs  alfo  that  when  I 
fpake  to  him  of  the  faid   Bargaine,  that  Hugh  faid   I 

1  He   was    previoufly   at   Reho-  the  Indians  at  the  fame  Time  Lieut, 

both.       His    Wife    was     Penticoft  Cooper  and  Thomas  Miller  were 

Bond,  but  who  her  Father  was  is  killed,  061.5th,  1675.     Springfield 

unknown.     She  was  maflacred  by  Records,  and  Hubbard's  Narrative. 


Appendix.  229 

could  not,  in  Stridlnefs,  hould  him  to  ye  Bargainer 
But  this  lafl:  Anfwere  doth  not  take  of  the  ill  Purpofe 
of  his  former  Threatning. 

[32]  4th  Sarah  the  Wife  of  Alexander  Edwardes1 
teftifies  vppon  Oath,  ffeb.  27,  1650,  that  about 
two  Years  agoe,  more  or  leffe,  Hugh  Parfons  being 
then  at  the  Long  Meddow,  came  to  her  Howfe  to  buy 
fome  Milke:  fhe  faid  I  will  giue  you  a  Halfpenny 
worth,  but  I  cannot  let  you  haue  any  more  at  this 
Tyme :  This  was  at  that  Tyme  when  my  Cow  gave 
three  Quartes  at  a  Meale;  but  the  next  Meale  after 
fhe  gave  not  aboue  a  Quart,  and  it  was  as  yellow  as 
Saffron,  and  yet  ye  Cow  ayld  Nothing  that  I  could 
difcerne:  the  next  Meale  it  altred  to  another  ftrange 
odd  Cullor,  and  fo  it  did  euery  Meale  for  a  Week 
together  it  ftill  altred  to  fome  od  Cullor  or  other  and 
alfo  it  grew  leffe  and  leffe:  and  yet  all  the  While  ye 
Cow  was  as  well  as  at  any  Tyme  before,  as  far  as  I 
could  difcerne:  and  about  a  Weeke  after  fhe  began  to 
mend  her  Milkagaine  wthoutany  Meanes  vfed:  vppon 
this  I  had  Thoughts  that  Hugh  Parfons  might  be  the 
Caufe  of  it. 

Alexander  Edwards  fwore  that  George  Coulton2 
faw  ye  Milke  in  ftrang  Colors. 

Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith  that  he  did  not  lie  one 
Night  at  ye  Long  Meddow  that  Somer,  but  only  in 
the  Spring  of  the  Yeere,  eather  in  March  or  in  the  Be- 
ginning of  Aprill,  when  he  fet  vp  Fencinge  there,  and 
that  he  neuer  had  Milk  of  her  but  that  one  Tyme; 
and  at  that  Tyme  of  the  Yeere  he  thinks  her  Cow 
could  not  giue  three  Quarts  at  a  Meale. 

But  now,  at  his  2d  Examination,  May  the  18,  1650, 

1  He  came  from  Wales,  by  way  2  George  Colton  died  at  Spring- 

of  Briftol.      His  Wife  was  Sarah,  field,  December   17th,   1699.     He 

Widow  of  John  Searl,  whom  he  was  recorded  as  Quartermafter. — 

married  April  28,  1642. — Savage.  Springfield  Records. 


230  Appendix. 

he  feeing  Alexander  Edwardes  about  to  teftifie  ye  Con- 
trary, he  confefTeth  that  he  lay  a  Night  there  in  plant- 
inge  Tyme,  about  the  End  of  May.  I  remember  yl 
Alexander  Edwards  came  to  me  to  tell  me  of  this  Ac- 
cident, and  faid  that  he  was  pswaded  the  Cow  was  be- 
witched by  Hugh  Parfons:  but  I  did  not  beleue  him 
at  that  Tyme,  I  rather  conceiued  that  the  Cow  was 
falling  into  fome  dangerous  SicknefTe;  for  fuch  a  fud- 
den  Abatement  I  tould  him  was  a  Sign  of  fome  dan- 
gerous Sicknefs  at  Hand:  but  feeing  no  SicknefTe 
followed,  I  told  Hugh  Parfons  that  fuch  a  fudden 
Change  could  not  come  from  a  naturall  Caufe. 
\.ZZ\  5ly  Anthony  Dorchefter1  faith  vppon  Oath  ffeb. 
25,  1650,  the  1.  Day  of  the  1.  Month  and  the  18 
Day,  that  about  September  was  twelve  Monthes,  four 
Men  had  equall  Shares  in  a  Cow :  each  had  a  Quarter, 
and  ye  Offall  was  to  be  diuided  alfo:  and  Hugh  Par- 
fons defyred  to  haue  the  Roote  of  the  Tounge :  but 
he  had  it  not:  it  fell  to  my  Share:  and  a  certaine 
Tyme  after  I  had  falted  it,  I  tooke  the  faid  Roote  and 
another  Peece  of  Meate,  and  put  it  into  the  Kettle  as 
it  was  boylinge  ouer  the  Fier  at  Hugh  Parfons  Howfe 
where  I  liued  at  yl  psfent:  and  there  was  no  Body 
there  but  he  and  his  Wife,  and  I  and  my  Wife  who 
was  (ick  of  a  Confumption,  fittinge  on  her  Bedd,  and 
not  able  to  gett  of  without  Help:  neather  were  any 
of  my  Children  able  to  take  fuch  a  Thinge  out  of  a 
boyling  Kettle:  this  being  the  Sabbath  Day,  Hugh 
Parfons  and  his  Wife  went  to  the  Church  before  me, 
then  I  made  myfelfe  ready  and  went  prfently  after 
them,  and  came  Home  before  them:  and  tooke  vp  my 
Meate  before  they  came  Home,  but  the  Roote  of  the 
Tounge  wh  Hugh  Parfons  formerly  defyred  was  gonn: 

1  He  died  at  Springfield,  Auguft     died   Aug.    nth,    1649.     A   Wife 
28th,    1683.       His    Wife,  Sarah,     Martha,  died  17  Dec.,  1662. 


Appendix.  231 

his  Wife  came  Home  prfently  after  me  (but  he  came 
not  with  her.)  Then  I  tould  her,  and  (he  wondred 
how  it  could  be  gonn:  and  fhe  went  to  ye  Tubb  where 
it  was  falted  to  fee  if  it  might  not  be  forgotten,  and  it 
was  not  there:  Then  faid  I  to  her,  I  am  fure  I  put  it 
into  the  boyling  Kettle,  and  fhe  confeffed  that  fhe  faw 
me  pick  it  and  wafh  it,  and  being  prfent  did  much 
wonder  ye  ftrange  going  of  it  away;  and  faid  that  fhe 
feared  her  Hufband  might  convey  it  away:  fhe  tould 
me  that  her  Hufband  went  along  with  her  till  we  came 
neere  to  Goodman  Merickes,  and  was  very  pleafing  to 
her,  more  then  vfually  he  had  bin  a  great  while  before: 
but  there  he  laid  the  Child  downe  and  went  no  further 
with  her:  and  fhe  faw  him  no  more  till  ye  Meeting 
was  almoft  donn:  (all  this,  Mary  Parfons  being  prfent 
doth  acknowledge.)  prfently  after  this  he  came  home: 
Then  I  fpake  of  it  to  him,  and  all  that  he  faid 
was,  that  he  thought  I  [34]  did  not  put  it  in:  but  I 
tould  him  that  I  was  fure  I  put  it  into  the  boyl- 
ing Kettle:  And  I  haue  euer  fince  belieued  that  no 
Hand  of  Man  did  take  it  away:  but  that  it  was  taken 
away  by  Witchcraft. 

Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  confefTeth  that  he  defyred  the 
Roote  of  ye  Toung,  but  withall  faith  he  is  ignorant 
as  ye  Child  vnborne  wch  way  it  went. 

Some  by  Standard  objected  it  might  be  taken  away 
by  his  Wife  as  well  as  by  him;  But  that  is  not  fo 
likely  becaufe  Hugh  Parfons  went  not  with  her  to  ye 
Meeting,  but  laid  down  her  Child  and  went  from  her, 
and  fhe  faw  him  no  more  till  Meeting  was  almoft  don. 

Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith,  that  he  doth  not  re- 
member that  he  went  any  whither,  unlefTe  he  might  go 
into  Goodman  Menkes1  Howfe  to  take  a  Pipe  of  To- 

1  Thomas  Merrick  was  among  His  Wife  was  Sarah,  Daughter  of 
the    early    Settlers   of   Springfield.     Rowland  Stebbins. 


232  Appendix. 

bacco,  and  though  his  Wife  faw  him  no  more  till  the 
Meeting  was  almoft  donn,  yet  he  faith  he  might  be 
{landing  wthout  the  Dore,  though  fhe  faw  him  not; 
And,  at  his  2d  Examination,  he  alked  how  it  did  ap- 
peere  that  he  came  not  to  the  Meeting  till  it  was 
almoft  don. 

Abigail  Mun  being  prfent  doth  teftifie  vppon  Oath, 
that  fhe  knew  by  the  Talk  about  the  ftrange  going 
away  of  this  Roote  of  the  Tounge,  what  Sab.  was 
ment,  and  fhe  faith  that  me  faw  him  come  that  Sabbath 
to  ye  Meeting,  when  ye  Sermon  was  well  onward. 

Jonathan  Taylor  depofed  in  open  Courte:  faith  that 
he  heard  the  laid  Parfons  fay  (notwithftanding  the 
Roote  of  the  Toung  was  defired  by  Anthony  Dor- 
chefter,  for  his  Wife,  being  ficke)  yett  he  faid  I  will 
haue  it.  Edwd:    RAwsoN/^ry.1 

\2$\  &y  Griffin  Jones2  doth  fufpecl:  you  for  Witch- 
craft about  Knife.  Griffin  Jones  faith  vppon  Oath, 
ffeb  25,  1650,  March  1.  and  18  Day  that  when 
he  liued  at  his  Howfe  neere  Hugh  Parfons  Howfe, 
about  1  y.  agoe:  on  a  Lordes  Day,  I  went  Home  to 
Dinner,  but  my  Wife  ftaid  behind  at  a  Neighbors 
Howfe  to  Dinner.  I  took  vp  my  Dinner,  and  laid 
it  on  a  little  Table  made  on  ye  Cradle  Head.  I  fought 
for  a  Knife,  but  I  could  not  find  any.  I  cleered  the 
Table  where  I  dined  to  fee  if  any  were  there,  and  I 
ferched  euery  where  about  ye  Howfe,  and  I  could  find 
none,  yet  I  knew  I  had  more  than  two,  and  when  I 
could  find  none  I  went  to  an  ould  Bafket  where  I  had 
Things  to  mend  Shoes  wthall,  and  there  was  a  rufty 
Knife,  and  with  that  I  was  faine  to  eate  my  Dinner. 

1  Only  this  Teftimony  of  Taylor  who  died  a  few  Weeks  before  him. 
is  in  the  Hand  of  Rawfon,  all  the  2  In  other    Records    his    Name 

other  in   that  of   Pynchon   except  {lands   Griffith  Jones.      He  had  a 

otherwife  noted.     Taylor  died    at  large  Family  of  Children,  and  died 

Suffield,  1683.     Had  Wife  Mary,  in  1677. 


Appendix.  233 

After  I  had  dined  I  took  away  ye  Victualls  that  were 
left,  and  laid  it  vp;  and  then  I  laid  the  rufty  Knife 
on  the  Corner  of  the  Table  to  cutt  a  Pip  of  Tobacco 
wthall.  But  before  I  cut  my  Tobacco  I  firft  went  out 
of  Dore  to  ferue  a  Pigg  that  was  but  a  very  little  of 
the  Dore,  and  no  Man  could  come  in  but  I  muft  fee 
them,  and  as  foone  as  I  came  in  to  cutt  my  Tobacco 
wth  the  faid  rufty  Knife,  there  lay  three  Knifes  to- 
gether on  yc  Table,  wch  made  me  blufh:1  wondering 
how  they  came  there  feeing  no  Body  was  in  yc  Howfe 
but  myfelf:  and  as  I  was  going  to  cut  ye  Tobacco, 
Hugh  Parfons  came  in,  and  faid,  where  is  the  Man. 
Are  you  ready  to  go  to  ye  Meetinge:  I  faid  by  and  by; 
as  foone  as  I  haue  taken  a  Pipe  of  Tobacco.  So  he 
ftaid  and  took  fome  wth  me. 

Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith  he  is  ignorant  of  any  fuch 
Thing,  and  in  the  Sight  of  God  can  cleare  his  Con- 
fience. 

It  was  tould  him  that  fuch  a  ftrange  Thinge  fallinge 
out  iuft  at  his  coming  in,  did  minifter  iuft  Occafion  of 
Sufp:tion  of  Witchcraft:  he  replyed  that  one  Witnefs 
was  not  fufficient.2 

\3&\  7ly.  Mary  Parfons  his  Wife  faith  that  one 
Reafon  why  fhe  doth  fufpecl:  you  to  be  a  Witch,  is 
becaufe  you  cannot  abide  that  iny  Thing  mould  be 
fpoken  againft  Witches.  She  faith  that  you  tould  her 
that  you  were  at  a  Neighbors  Howfe  a  little  before 
Lecture,  when  they  were  fpeaking  of  Carrington3  and 
his  Wife,  that  were  now  apprhended  for  Witches,  fhe 

1  The  Fellow  was  doubtlefs  too  Contempt  to  fpeak  of  them  com- 
drunk  to  know  very  precifely  what     placently. 

he  was  about. 

3  Perhaps   John    Carrington,   of 

2  Here  was  common  Senfe  againft  Wethersfield,  in  Connecticut.  I 
Nonkwk.  He  doubtlefs  viewed  have  found  no  Record  of  the  Cafe, 
thefe    Accufations   with   too   much     See  Public  Records  of  Conneclicut. 

Ee 


234-  Appendix. 

faith  that  when  you  came  Home  and  fpake  thes 
Speeches  to  her,  (he  faid  to  you,  I  hope  that  God  will 
find  out  all  fuch  wicked  Pfons  and  purge  New  England 
of  all  Witches  ere  it  be  long:  to  this  fhe  faith  you 
gaue  her  a  naughty  Looke,  but  neuer  a  Word;  but 
psentiy  after,  on  a  leight  Occafion,  you  took  vp  a 
Block,  and  made  as  if  you  would  throw  it  at  her 
Head,  but  yet,  in  ye  End,  you  did  not,  but  threw  it 
downe  on  ye  Hearth  of  the  Chimney.  This  Expref- 
fion  of  yr  Anger  was  becaufe  fhe  wifhed  the  Ruine  of 
all  Witches. 

Mary  Afhley1  teftifies  this  fubflance,  vppon  Oath. 

Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith  he  does  not  rember  that 
euer  he  took  vp  a  Block  to  throw  at  her,  but  vppon 
further  Debate  he  faid  at  laft  that  he  tooke  vp  a  Block 
but  remembered  not  the  Occafion:  at  his  2d  Anfwer 
he  faith  that  he  took  vp  no  Block  on  that  Occafion. 

Replie:  it  might  well  be  on  that  Occafion,  for  not 
long  fince  fhe  faith  that  you  faid  to  her,  if  euer  any 
Trouble  doe  come  vnto  you,  it  will  be  by  her  Meanes, 
and  that  fhe  would  be  the  Meanes  to  hang  you. 

Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith  that  he  might  fay  fo,  be- 
caufe, in  his  Anger  he  is  impatient,  and  doth  fpeak 
what  he  fhould  not:  At  his  2d  Examination,  he  fd  he 
might  fay  fo,  becaufe  fhe  is  the  worft  Enimy  that  I 
haue,  confidering  the  Relation  that  is  betweene  vs :  [37] 
and  if  any  Body  befpeake  Euill  of  me  fhe  will  fpeake 
as  ill,  and  as  much  as  any  Body  elfe. 

Mary  Parfons  replied,  I  haue  often  intreated  him 
to  confeffe  whether  he  were  a  Witch  or  no,  I  tould 
him  that  if  he  would  acknowledge  it  I  would  begg 
the  Prayers  of  Gods  People  on  my  Knees  for  him, 
and  that  we  are  not  our  owne,  we  are  bought  with  a 

1  Probably  the  Wife  of  Robert  Springfield.  The  Afhleys  were  an 
Afhley,  one  of  the  firft  Settlers  of    early  Family  there. 


Appendix.  235 

Price,  and  that  God  would  redeeme  from  the  Power 
of  Sathan,  &c. 

Hugh  Parfons  was  afked  if  his  Wife  had  fpoken 
Anything  to  him  at  any  Tyme  to  confefs  Witchcraft. 

Ans.  Not  Anything  to  me  about  Witchcraft  that  I 
rember. 

8ly.  Mary  Parfons  faith,  did  not  I  fpeak  of  it  to 
you  vppon  the  death  of  my  Child:  did  not  I  tell  you 
then  that  I  had  iealoufies  that  you  had  bewitched  yr 
owne  Child  to  Death. 

To  this  he  was  fylent  and  made  no  Anfwer. 

Then  (he  defyred  Antony  Dorchefter  that  liued  then 
in  their  Howfe  whether  he  could  not  remember  that 
fhe  had  charged  her  Hufband  wth  the  bewitching  of  his 
Child. 

Anthony  Dorchefter  faid  that  he  did  not  rember 
that  euer  me  fpake  directly  to  him  of  bewitching  his 
Child,  but  that  fhe  had  Ieloufies  that  he  had  be- 
witched his  Child  to  Death. 

Mary  Parfons  faid,  that  when  her  laft  Child  was  ill 
fhe  tould  him  that  fhe  fufpected  he  had  bewitched  that, 
as  he  had  done  his  other  Child,  and  faid,  I  haue  fpoken 
of  it  to  him,  and  to  other  Folkes,  together  aboue  forty 
Tymes. 

It  was  alledged  that  he  might  well  be  fufpected  to 
haue  bewitched  his  former  Child  to  Death,  becaufe  he 
expreffed  no  Kind  of  Sorrow  at  the  Death  of  it. 
[38]  Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith  that  he  was  loath 
to  expreffe  any  Sorrow  before  his  Wife,  becaufe  of  the 
weak  Condition  that  fhe  was  in  at  that  Tyme. 

Mr.  Moxon  defyred  to  afk  him  a  Queftion  wch  was 
this:  It  feemes  he  had  Conference  with  his  Wife 
about  his  fick  Child,  and  about  her  Greefe  for  it,  or 
elfe  why  mould  he  forbeare  to  expreffe  the  Affection 
of  Sorrow  before  her,  that  he  might  not  grieue  her. 


236  Appendix. 

Hugh  Parfons  faith  that  his  Wife  might  wonder  at 
it,  but  yet  that  was  the  true  Reafon  of  it. 

It  was  afked  him  why  he  did  not  fhow  more  Refped 
to  his  Wife  and  Child,  but  went  into  the  long  Med- 
dow  and  lay  there  all  Night  when  his  Child  lay  at  the 
Point  of  Death,  and  when  he  herd  of  the  Death  of  it 
he  next  Morning  neuer  mewed  any  Sorrow  for  it. 

George  Coalton  flood  forth  to  teftifie  on  Oath,  that 
coming  to  Hugh  Parfons  Houfe  where  his  Wife  was 
fitting  by  the  Fier  wth  the  Child  in  her  Lapp,  and  fhe 
fhewed  to  me  the  ftrange  Condition  of  the  Child,  and 
I  was  amazed  at  it,  for  ye  Childs  Secretts  did  rott,  or 
were  confuminge:  and  fhe  faid,  though  my  Child  be 
fo  ill,  and  I  haue  much  to  do  with  it,  yet  my  Hufband 
keepes  adoe  at  me  to  help  him  about  his  Corne:  I 
faid  to  her,  y°  Hufband  had  more  need  to  get  you 
fome  Help  then  to  keepe  adoe  at  you  to  help  him: 
and  fhe  fpake  very  harm  Things  againft  him  before 
his  Face;  and  if  he  had  bin  inocent  he  would  haue 
blamed  her  for  her  Speeches,  for  fhe  fpake  fuch  Things 
againft  him  as  are  not  ordinary  for  Pfons  to  fpeak  one 
of  another,  and  yet  he  beinge  psent  faid  Nothing  for 
himfelf  in  way  of  blaminge  any  Thing  that  fhe  had 
fpoken  againft  him. 

Sworne  in  Corte. 

It  was  alfo  objected  to  Hugh  Parfons,  that  if  he 
had  bin  inocent  about  the  Death  of  his  Child,  he 
would  haue  reproued  her  Speeches. 
[39]  Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith  that  he  had  fuch 
Speeches  from  her  dayly,  and  therefore  he  made  the 
beft  of  it  now,  and  he  alfo  faith,  I  fett  her  not  about 
Bufinefs,  I  required  none  at  her  Hands,  except  it  were 
to  throw  in  fome  Indian  Corn  from  ye  Dore.  I  haue 
often  blamed  her  for  doinge  Worke,  and  bidd  her  do 
lefle. 

Anthony    Dorchefter,   who   liued    in   their   Howfe, 


Appendix.  237 

flood  forth  to  teftifie  that  he  neuer  knew  him  blame 
her  for  doinge  to  much  Worke,  except  (faith  he)  that 
ihe  helped  my  Wife  at  any  Tyme,  wch  Worke  did  not 
bring  in  any  pffit  to  him.  But,  faith  Anthony  Dor- 
chefter,  he  need  not  fay  that  he  forebore  Greefe  for  his 
fick  Child  before  his  Wife,  for  feare  it  mould  trouble 
her  in  her  weak  Condition,  for  he  neuer  feared  eather 
to  greeue  or  difpleafe  his  Wife  any  Tyme. 

Being  afked  whether  he  did  euer  do  any  Thinge  to 
comfort  his  Wife  in  her  Sorrow  for  ye  Death  of  her 
Child,  he  anfwered  not. 

Mary  Parfons  faid  no,  he  did  Nothing  to  comfort 
me,  but  ftill,  when  he  came  Home  he  kept  adoe  at 
me  to  throw  in  the  Corne  from  the  Dore,  and  when  I 
faw  my  Hufband  in  this  Frame,  it  added  more  Greefe 
to  my  Sorrow. 

Anthony  Dorchefter  faith,  I  faw  Nothing  he  did  to 
comfort  his  Wife,  but  he  did  often  blame  her  that  ihe 
did  not  throw  in  the  Corne  from  the  Dore. 

It  was  euidenced  by  George  Coulton  vppon  Oath, 
that  he  mewed  no  naturall  Sorrow  for  ye  Death  of  his 
Child  when  he  firft  herd  of  it  in  ye  longe  Meddow. 

Jonathans  Burtes  Teftimony  vppon  Oath  was  for 
the  Tyme  of  the  Morning  when  he  brought  Word  to 
Hugh  Parfons  of  the  Death  of  his  Child:  Jonathan 
faith  it  was  as  he  thought,  about  eight  or  nine  a  Clock 
in  the  Morning;  and  the  Place  where  he  was  firft 
tould  of  ye  Death  of  it  was  at  a  great  Oake  [40] 
about  16  or  20  Poles  from  George  Coulton's  Howfe. 

George  Coulton  teftifies  vppon  Oath,  March.  1.  and 
March  18,  1650,  that  Hugh  Parfons  came  into  ye 
long  Meddow  when  his  Child  lay  at  ye  Point  of  Death; 
and  that  hauing  Word  of  ye  Death  of  it  the  next 
Morning,  by  Jonathan  Burt,  he  was  not  affected  w* 
it,  but  he  came,  after  a  light  Manner,  rufhing  into  my 
Howfe,  and  faid,  I  here  my  Child  is  dead:  but  I  will 


238  Appendix. 

cutt  a  Pipe  of  Tobacco  firft  before  I  goe  Home:  and 
after  he  was  goun  my  Wife  and  myfelf  did  mch 
wonder  at  yc  lightneffe  of  his  Carriage,  becaufe  he 
mewed  no  Affection  of  Sorrow  for  ye  Death  of  his 
Child. 

Sworne  in  Corte. 

Ans.  Hugh  Parfons  faith  that  he  was  very  full  of 
Sorrow  for  the  Death  of  it  in  Private,  though  not  in 
Publik;  he  faith  that  he  was  much  troubled  for  the 
Death  of  it  when  he  firft  herd  of  it  before  he  came 
into  Goodm  Coultons  Howfe: 

George  Coulton  being  psent  doth  teftifie,  that  Hugh 
Parfons  came  to  his  Howfe,  he  thinks,  about  8  a  Clock 
in  the  Morning,  and  therefore  he  is  very  fure  of  it, 
that  he  herd  of  it  but  a  litle  While  before  he  came  to 
his  Howfe;  for  Jonathan  Burt,  that  brought  the 
Newes  of  it,  fpake  of  it  to  Hugh  Parfons,  but  about 
12  or  20  Poles  from  George  Coultons  Howfe,  and  he 
came  psently  thither:  and  therefore  if  he  had  had  any 
Sorrow  for  the  Death  of  his  Child  he  could  not  but 
haue  (hewed  fome  Signe  of  it  when  he  came  to  his 
Howfe;  but  he  faith  that  both  he  and  his  Wife  dif- 
cerned  no  Signe  of  Sorrow  at  all. 

Sworne  in  Corte. 

Hugh  Parfons  defyred  that  Goodman  Cooly  would 
teftifie  whether  he  was  not  affected  wth  the  Death  of 
his  Child  when  he  came  to  fpeak  to  him  to  go  to  the 
Buriall  of  it,  he  faith  he  could  not  fpeak  to  him  for 
weeping. 

[41.  Beniamin  Cooly  faith  that  when  he  fpake  to  him 
to  go  to  the  Buriall  of  his  Child  he  cannot  rember 
any  Sorrow  that  he  mewed,  for  he  came  to  him  taking 
a  Pipe  of  Tobacco. 

Anthony  Dorchefter  teftifies  vppon  Oath,  March 
1  and  18,  1650,  that  when  Hugh  Parfons  Child  was 
dead,  wch  was  laft  Indian  Harueft  was  12  Monthes,  he 


Appendix.  239 

then  liuing  at  the  Howfe  of  Hugh  Parfons,  did  much 
wonder  that  when  the  faid  Hugh  Parfons  came  Home 
from  the  long  Meddow,  he  expreffed  no  Kind  of  Sor- 
row for  his  Child  after  he  came  Home;  but  carried 
himfelf  as  at  other  Tymes  without  any  regard  of  it, 
that  eather  I  or  my  Wife  could  difcouer. 

Alfo,  Blanch  Bodorthe  faith,  on  oath,  that  fhe  was 
at  Hugh  Parfons  Howfe  when  he  came  from  ye  long 
Meddow  and  he  fhewed  no  kind  of  Sorrow  for  ye 
Death  of  his  Child. 

Hugh  Parfons  faith,  that  when  his  Child  was  fick 
and  like  to  dye,  he  run  barefoote  and  barelegged,  and 
with  Teares  to  defyre  Goody  Cooly  to  come  to  his 
Wife,  becaufe  his  Child  was  fo  ill. 
•  Mary  Parfons  faith,  that  this  was  out  of  a  fudden 
Feare,  at  the  very  firft  Tyme  that  ye  Child  was  taken, 
for  it  was  fuddenly  and  ftrangely  taken  with  a  Trem- 
bling, beginning  at  the  Toes,  and  coming  vpwardes, 
and  fo  it  flopped  the  Childes  Breath. 

Goody  Cooly  alfo  teftifies,  that  this  was  at  the  firft 
Tyme  that  the  Child  was  taken.  There  was  fome 
Speeches  vfed,  that  it  might  be  bewitched,  for  thefe 
that  are  now  bewitched  haue  often  Tymes  Something 
rife  up  into  their  Throates  that  doth  ftopp  their 
Breath:  and  it  feemes  by  George  Coultons  Teftimony, 
that  the  Child  was  ftrangely  taken. 

Mary  Afhly  and  Sara  Leonard  ftood  vp  to  giue 
Teftimony,  that  they  faw  the  Child  in  ye  Tyme  of  its 
Sicknefle,  and  that  they  apprhended  the  Secrets  of  the 
Child  to  confume  and  waft  away. 

[42]  Mary  Parfons  being  afked  what  Reafons  fhe  had 
to  fufpect  her  Hufband  for  a  Witch,  gaue  thefe  Rea- 
fons : — 

1.  Becaufe  when  I  fay  Anything  to  any  Body,  neuer 
fo  fecretly,  to  fuch  ffreinde  as  I  am  fure  would  not 
fpeak  of  it,  yet  he  would  come  to  know  it;  by  what 


240  Appendix. 

Meanes  I  cannot  tell:  I  haue  fpoken  fome  Thinges 
to  Mrs.  Smith,  that  goes  litle  Abroad,  and  I  am  fure 
would  not  fpeak  of  it,  yet  he  hath  knowen  it,  and 
would  fpeak  of  it  to  me  as  foone  as  I  came  Home. 

2ly.  Becaufe  he  vfeth  to  be  out  a  Nights  till  Mid- 
night (till  of  Late),  and  about  half  an  Hower  before 
he  comes  Home,  I  mall  here  fome  Noyfe  or  other 
about  the  Dore,  or  about  the  Howfe. 

3Iy.  Becaufe  he  vfeth  to  come  Home  in  a  diftempered 
Frame,  fo  that  I  could  not  tell  how  to  pleafe  him; 
fometymes  he  hath  puld  of  the  Bed  Clothes  and  left 
me  naked  a  Bed,  and  hath  quenched  the  Fier;  fome- 
tymes he  hath  thrown  Peafe  about  ye  Howfe  and 
made  me  pick  them  vp. 

4.  Becaufe  oftentymes  in  his  Sleepe  he  makes  a 
gablinge  Noyfe,  but  I  cannot  vnderftand  one  Word 
that  he  fays,  and  when  I  did  afke  what  it  was  that  he 
talked  in  his  Sleepe,  he  would  fay  that  he  had  ftrange 
Dreames;  and  one  Tyme  he  faid  that  the  Diuell  and 
he  were  fighting,  and  that  the  Diuill  had  almoft  ouer- 
come  him,  but  at  laft  he  got  the  Mattery  of  the  Diuill. 

Being  afked  if  euer  fhe  knew  her  Hufband  doe  any 
Thing  beyond  the  Power  of  Nature:  (he  faid  on  a 
Tyme  her  Hufband  fent  her  to  Jonathan  Taylor  to 
get  him  to  worke  on  the  Mofrow,  and  as  I  returned 
Home  in  ye  Twilight,  I  faw  a  Thing  like  a  great  natty 
Dogg  by  the  Path  Side.  I  fufpected  it  was  donn  by 
Witchcraft  from  my  Hufband  he  fent  me  out  [worn 
from  the  Margin]  but  vfually  he  doth  fuch  Thinges 
himfelf. 

[43]  ffeb.  27,  1650.  Beniamin  Coly  faith  vppon 
Oath  that  Mary  Parfons  tould  him  aboue  a  Yeere 
fince,  that  fhe  feared  her  Hufband  was  a  Witch,  and 
that  fhe  fo  far  fufpected  him  that  fhe  hath  ferched  him 
when  he  hath  bin  afleepe  in  Bedd,  and  could  not  find 
Anythin  about  him  vnleffe  it  be  in  his  fecret  Ptes. 


Appendix.  241 

ffeb.  27,  1650.  Anthony  Dorchefter  faith  vppon 
Oath,  that  about  a  Yeere  and  a  Quarter  (ince,  I  and 
my  Wife  liued  for  a  Tyme  at  Hugh  Parfons  Howfe, 
and  that  I  haue  feuerall  Tymes  herd  Mary  Parfons 
fay  that  fhe  fufpe&ed,  and  greately  fufpe&ed,  her  Huf- 
band  to  be  a  Witch,  and  that  her  Hufband  once  in  24 
Howers  would  be  from  Home,  if  not  in  the  Day 
Tyme  then  in  the  Night  Tyme,  what  euer  Weather  it 
was:  and  that  in  his  Abfence  fhe  hath  herd  a  rumbling 
Noyfe  in  the  Howfe,  fometymes  in  one  Place  and 
fometymes  in  another;  and  that  fhe  did  much  fufpect 
him  to  be  a  Witch,  becaufe  if  fhe  had  any  priuate  Talk 
wth  any  he  would  come  to  know  it,  by  what  Meanes 
me  could  not  tell,  being  confident  that  thofe  fhe  re- 
uealed  herfelf  vnto  would  neuer  tell  it. 

Beniamin  Cooly  and  Anthony  Dorchefter  fay  vppon 
Oath,  that  being  charged  by  ye  Conftable  to  Watch 
Mary  Parfons  this  laft  Night,  fhe  tould  them  that  if 
her  Hufoand  had  fallen  out  with  any  Body  he  would 
fay  that  he  would  be  euen  wth  them,  and  then  fhe  found 
he  did  bewitch  his  ownje  Child  that  fhe  might  be  at 
Liberty  to  help  him  in  his  Indian  Harueft;  for  he 
expe&ed  help  from  her,  and  becaufe  her  Tyme  was 
taken  vp  about  her  Child,  he  being  egar  after  the 
World,  feemed  to  be  troubled  at  it,  and  fhe  fufpecTred 
that  he  was  a  Meanes  to  make  an  End  of  his  Child 
quickly,  that  fhe  might  be  at  Liberty  to  help  him: 
another  Thing  fhe  faid  made  her  to  fufpecl:  her  Huf- 
band to  be  a  Witch  was,  becaufe  moft  Things  he  fould 
to  Others  did  not  profper :  another  Ground  of  fufpi- 
tion  was,  becaufe  he  was  fo  backward  to  go  to  the 
Ordenances,  eather  to  the  Lecture  or  to  any  other 
[44]  Meetinge,  and  fhe  hath  bin  faint  to  threaten 
him  that  fhe  would  complaine  to  the  Magiftrate,  or 
elfe  fhe  thought  he  would  not  let  her  go  once  in  the 
Yeere:  another  Thinge  made  her  fufpecl:  him  to  be  a 

Ff 


242  Appendix. 

Witch  was  becaufe  of  the  great  Noyfe  that  fhe  fhould 
here  in  the  Howfe  when  he  was  abroad;  and  fhe  faid, 
that  laft  Tufday  at  Night,  when  he  was  abroad  fhe 
herd  a  Noyfe  in  the  Howfe  as  if  40  Horfes  had  bin 
there,  and  after  he  was  come  to  Bedd  he  kept  a  Noyfe 
and  a  galling  in  his  Sleepe  but  me  could  not  vnder- 
ftand  one  Word  and  fo  he  hath  done  many  Tymes 
formerly  and  when  me  afked  him  what  he  ayled,  he 
would  fay  he  had  ftrange  Dreames,  and  one  Tyme  he 
faid  that  the  Diuill  and  he  were  a  fighting,  and  once 
he  had  almoft  ouercome  him,  but  at  laft  he  ouercome 
the  Diuill. 

ffrancis  Pepper  faith  vppon  Oath:  when  I  came  to 
fee  Mary  Parfons  that  Sabbath  that  fhe  kept  at  Robert 
Afhlies  Howfe,  as  foone  as  fhe  faw  me  fhe  faid  vnto 
me,  ye  Heffer  was  bewitched.  I  afked  her  how  fhe 
could  tell,  fhe  faid  her  Hufband  had  bewitched  it,  and 
now  he  had  bewitched  me,  and  he  knows  now  what  I 
fay,  and  he  now  terrifies  me  in  this  Place,  ftriking  her 
Hand  vppon  her  Thigh. 

ffeb.  27,  1650.  Mary  the  Wife  of  Robert  Afhly 
faith  vppon  Oath,  that  Mary  Parfons  was  at  her 
Howfe,  laft  Lecture  Day  was  Sen'ight,  before  Meet- 
ing, and  among  other  Speeches  fhe  faid,  as  for  the 
Death  of  Mr.  Smithes  Children,1  it  lay  very  fad  vppon 
her,  very,  fhe  faid  becaufe  my  Hufband  would  haue 
had  me  to  haue  nurfed  his  Children:  but,  faid  fhe, 
doth  Any  one  think  me  a  fitt  Nurfe  for  them:  I  afked 
her  why  he  would  haue  her  to  nurfe  them:  fhe  faid  for 
Luker  and  Gaine;  one  may  well  know  his  Reafon: 
after  this  fhe  fetched  a  great  Sigh  and  faid,  litle  doth 
Any  one  think  how  the  Death  of  thofe  Children  lies 


1  Mary,  Dau.  of  Mr.  Henry  Henry  Smith,  died  24th  June,  1648  ; 
Smith,  buried  at  Springfield,  Nov.  Sarah,  died  30  June,  1648. — 
9th,  1 64 1  ;  Margaret,  Dau.  of  Mr.      Springfield  Records. 


Appendix.  24.3 

vppon  me:  and  fhe  faid  it  was  her  neere  Relation; 
but,  faid  fhe,  it  is  better  for  others  to  bring  him  out 
then  for  me,  but  I  can  fpeak  a  great  Deale  of  him  if 
others  bring  him  out. 

Mary  Parfons  was  afked  what  Grounde  fhe  had  to 
think  that  her  Hufband  bewitched  Mr.  Smithes  Child- 
ren: becaufe,  my  Hufband  would  often  fay  that  he 
would  be  euen  wth  Mr.  Smith  if  he  denied  to  let  him 
haue  any  Peafe,  or  to  plow  his  Ground  or  to  do  any 
other  Thing  for  him  that  he  defyred:  he  would  often 
fay  I  would  be  euen  wth  him. 

[45]  John_Lumbard  faith  vppon  Oath,  March  17, 
1650,  that  one  Day  the  laft  fummer  he  fett  a  Trowell 
and  a  flick,  wch  he  vfed  to  hould  to  his  Clay  when  he 
dawbed,  on  ye  Ground  iufl  without  his  Dore:  after 
this  two  Indians  came  in,  and  alfo  psently  went  away 
againe;  then  I  alfo  went  out  to  look  for  my  Trowell: 
and  there  was  my  faid  Stick  but  my  Trowell  was 
gonne:  I  and  my  Wife  fought  for  it  very  narrowly, 
both  in  that  Place  and  alfo  within  the  Howfe,  and 
could  not  find  it:  But  about  two  Dayes  after,  as 
Hugh  Parfons  was  at  the  Dore  of  my  Howfe  I  faw 
the  faid  two  Indians,  and  I  called  them  to  afk  them 
for  my  Trowell:  faid  Hugh  Parfons  what  do  you 
want,  I  faid  they  haue  flolen  my  Trowell:  faid  Hugh 
Parfons  look,  here  it  is,  and  there  it  was  in  the  very 
Place  where  I  laid  it.  I  did  not  fee  him  lay  it  there, 
but  I  do  really  think  it  came  there  by  Witchcraft. 

Hugh  Parfons  anfwered,  that  he  cannot  remember 
that  he  laid  it  there.  John  Lumbard  faith  that  the 
Reafon  why  he  did  not  afk  him  how  it  came  there  was 
becaufe  he  had  bin  at  Hugh  Parfons  but  the  Day  be- 
fore to  borrow  a  Trowell,  to  make  an  end  of  his 
Daugbing,  for  that  Trowell  he  had  left  was  Goodman 
Lanktons.  Hugh  Parfons  at  this  flood  dumb  and 
anfwered  no  more. 


244  Appendix. 

John  Mathewes  faith  vppon  Oath,  ffeb.  27,  1650, 
that  a  little  before  the  Tryall  wth  ye  Widdow  Marfh- 
feild,  wch  was  about  May,  1649,  being  in  Talk  with 
Mary  Parfons  about  Witches,  me  faid  to  me  that  her 
Hufband  was  a  Witch:  I  afked  her  how  fhe  [46]  knew 
it,  fhe  faid  the  Diuill  came  to  him  in  ye  Night,  at  the 
Bed,  and  fuckt  him  one  Night  and  made  him  cry  out 
one  Tyme,  fhe  could  not  tell  what  it  mould  be  elfe 
but  the  Diuill.  She  faid  alfo  that  her  Hufband  was 
often  tormented  in  his  Bowells,  and  cryed  out  as 
though  he  were  pricked  with  Pins  and  Daggers,  and  I 
know  not  what  elfe  it  mould  be,  vnleffe  it  were  the 
Diuill  that  mould  torment  him  fo. 

March  3,  1650.  Thomas  Merick,  the  Conftable 
faith  vppon  Oath,  that  this  lafl  Night,  towards  Morn- 
ing, Hugh  Parfons  lyenge  by  the  Fier  Side  faid  to 
him  two  feuerall  Tymes  Good[Man?]  now  come  and 
lance  my  Belly,  for  I  am  in  lamentable  Paine  or  Tor- 
ment. I  faid  to  him,  if  you  will  goe  forth  to  eafe 
yslfe  He  take  of  y°  Chaines  and  let  you  goe:  he  faid, 
no,  I  haue  no  need  that  way. 

Hugh  Parfons  anfwer  March  18,  that  he  had  a 
Paine  in  his  Belly,  but  did  not  fpeak  of  lancinge  it.1 

Sarah,  the  Wife  of  Thomas  Merick  flood  forth, 
and  teftified  that  all  her  Hufband  had  teftified  was 
true. 

[47]  April  3d,  1 65 1.  Thomas  Cooper  faith  vppon 
Oath  that  being  appointed  to  watch  Mary  Parfons, 
about  mid  March  laft,  among  other  Things  fhe  tould 
me  that  fhe  was  now  hampered  for  relatinge  fo  much 
as  me  had  don  againft  her  Hufband  at  Mr.  Pynchons. 
But,  faid  fhe,  if  that  dumb  Dogg  could  but  haue 
fpoken  it  would  haue  bin  better  wth  me  then  it  is:   but 

1  The  "  lancing  it w  was  unquef-  ble  to  give  his  Teftimony  more 
tionably  thrown  in  by  the  Confta-     importance. 


Appendix.  24.5 

faid  flie  if  I  might  but  fpeak  wth  him  before  Mr. 
Pynchon,  Face  to  Face,  I  would  make  that  dumb 
Dogg  to  fpeak.  I  faid  to  her  why  do  you  fpeak  fo  of 
y°  Hufband;  me  thinkes,  if  he  were  a  Witch  there 
would  fome  apparant  Signe  or  Mark  of  it  appere  vp- 
pon  his  Body,  for  they  fay  Witches  haue  Teates 
vppon  fome  pt  or  other  of  their  Body,  but  as  far  as  I 
heere  there  is  not  any  fuch  apparant  Thinge  vppon  his 
Body.  She  anfwered,  it  is  not  alwayes  fo:  but,  faid 
me,  why  do  I  fay  fo,  I  haue  no  Skill  in  Witchery: 
but,  faid  (he,  why  may  it  not  be  with  him  as  it  was 
with  me;  that  Night  that  I  was  at  Goodman  Afhlies: 
the  Diuill  may  come  into  his  Body  only  like  a  Wind, 
and  fo  goe  forth  againe,  for  fo  the  Diuill  tould  me 
that  Night,  (for  I  think  I  mould  haue  bin  a  Witch 
afore  now  but  that  I  was  afraid  to  fee  the  Diuill,  left 
he  mould  fright  me.)  But  the  Diuill  tould  me  that 
I  mould  not  Feare  that,  (I  will  not  come  in  any  Appa- 
rition, but  only  come  into  thy  Body  like  a  Wind,  and 
trouble  thee  a  litle  While,  and  psntly  go  forth  againe:) 
and  fo  I  confented;  and  that  Night  I  was  with  my 
Hufband  and  Goodwife  Mericke  and  Befle  Sewell,  in 
Goodman  Stebinges  his  Lott:  and  we  were  fometymes 
like  Catts  and  fometymes  in  our  owne  fhape,  and  we 
were  a  plodding  for  fome  good  Cheere;  and  they  made 
me  to  go  barefoote  and  mak  the  Fiers,  becaufe  I  had 
declared  fo  much  at  Mr.  Pynchons.1 
[48]  April  7,  1 65 1.  Jonathan  Taylar  faith  vppon 
Oath,  that  in  ye  Day  that  Mary  Parfons  was  firft  ex- 
amined, Hugh  Parfons  came  to  me  to  Merickes  Barne, 
and  defyred  to  afke  me  a  Queftion,  and  to  tell  him  who 
were  his  Accufers:   I  faid  I  cannot  tell:  faid  he,  why 

1  Had  not  the  Brains  of  Magif-  thofe  of  the  Accufed,  fhe  would 
trate  and  People  been  turning  have  been  treated  as  one  entirely 
Somerfets,    nearly  as   much   fo  as     bereft  of  Reafon. 


246  Appendix, 

do  you  fay  To,  you  can  tell,  I  know  you  can  tell.  Was 
it  euer  known,  faid  he,  that  a  Man  fhould  be  accufed 
and  not  know  his  Accufers:  Tell  me  who  they  are, 
for  what  euer  you  tell  me  fhall  be  as  in  y°  owne  Breft. 
I  faid  I  wonder  you  are  fo  earner!:  wth  me  to  tell  you; 
you  will  know  foone  enough;  I  will  not  tell  you  any 
Thinge;  but,  faid  I,  I  beleeue  y°  Wife  will  be  y° 
biggeft  Accufar:  at  this  Speech  he  faw  his  Wife  goe 
by  to  be  examined,  then  faid  he,  it  is  like  I  fhall  be  ex- 
amined now. 

At  Night,  when  I  was  ready  to  goe  Home,  I  afked 
Goody  Meerik  for  fome  Beere;  me  faid  go  down  into 
the  Sellar  and  draw  it,  fo  I  did,  but  could  not  wringe 
out  ye  Tapp  wth  all  ye  Strength  I  had;  then  I  tooke 
a  Peece  of  an  Inch  Board  and  knocked  the  Tapp  on 
each  Side  to  loofen  it,  and  then  I  tryed  to  wringe  it 
out  againe  wth  my  Hand,  till  the  Blood  ftarted  in  my 
Hand  wth  wringinge  at  it,  and  yet  I  could  not  get  it 
out:  I  came  vp  and  tould  Goody  Merik,  and  fhe 
laughed  at  me,  and  faid,  I  am  pfuaded  I  will  fetch  it 
out  with  my  litle  Finger:  I  tould  her  it  was  impoffible, 
then  fhe  faid  light  a  Candle  and  go  fee :  fo  I  lighted  a 
Candle,  and  fhe  and  Hugh  Parfons  went  with  me,  and 
as  foone  as  euer  fhe  touched  it,  the  Tapp  came  out.1 
I  faid  to  her  what,  are  you  a  Witch  (though  I  did  not 
think  fo)  but  I  do  verily  beleeue  it  could  not  haue 
bin  fo  except  it  were  bewitched.  After  we  were  come 
vp  fhe  faid  let  me,  fee  y°  Hand;  then,  faid  fhe,  I  con- 
feffe  y°  Hand  is  very  tender,  and  fhe  faid  to  Hugh 
Parfons,  the  Blood  ftands  in  his  Hand:  but  I  would 
not  haue  you  think  it  was  by  Witchery,  for  I  think 
the  leaft  Child  in  the  Howfe  might  haue  gott  it 
out. 


1  There  can  be  no  Queftion  in     Goody    Myrlck,   but   poor    Hugh 
this  Cafe  but  that  the  Witch  was     Parfons  was  predoomed. 


Appendix.  247 

Affore  I  came  Home,  and  when  I  was  a  Bedd,  there 
was  a  Light  in  ye  Rome,  as  if  it  had  bin  Day-Light:  I 
was  amazed  to  fee  fuch  a  Light:  I  thought  it  could 
not  be  Day:  I  fatt  vp  in  the  [49]  Bed  to  fee  if  it 
were  Day  or  no:  and  as  I  looked  ouer  the  Bed  I  faw 
three  Snakes  on  the  Floore,  and  I  was  in  a  Maze  to 
fee  them :  I  ftranged  that  Snakes  mould  be  abroad  at 
this  Tyme  of  the  Yeere:  two  of  them  were  great 
ones,  the  other  was  a  litle  one,  wth  blackifh  and  yellow 
Streaks:  and  the  little  one  came  to  ye  Bedd  Side  and 
gott  vp  vppon  ye  Bedd;  wth  that  I  ftrok  it  downe  with 
my  Hand:  it  came  vp  againe  and  I  ftruck  it  downe 
againe:  then  I  began  to  feare  that  if  my  Wife  mould 
fee  them,  being  then  very  neere  her  Tyme,  it  would 
half  vndoe  her  wth  Feare:  therefore  I  did  not  wake 
her,  but  lay  downe  againe:  and  then  I  thought  thus; 
lett  God  doe  what  he  will:  and  as  foone  as  I  was  laid 
downe,  ye  faid  Snake  ranne  vp  a  3d  Tyme,  and  hitt 
me  on  ye  Forehead,  wch  pricked  like  a  Needle;  then  I 
herd  a  Voice  that  faid,  Death,  and  that  Voice  was  like 
Hugh  Parfons  Voice  to  my  beft  Apprhen(ion;  and 
now  I  was  a  little  reuiued  in  Spirit,  and  I  faid  Death: 
that  is  a  Lye,  it  was  neuer  knowen  that  fuch  a  Snake 
kild  a  Man:  then  it  was  darke  againe:  and  I  was 
taken  with  fuch  a  ftrange  Shakinge,  as  if  euery  Limb 
had  bin  puld  in  Peeces:  then  my  Wife  awaked,  and 
fhe  faid  Hufband,  what  ayle  you  that  you  make  fo, 
are  you  could:  no,  faid  I,  am  hot  enough,  but  I  am 
very  ill,  fhe  faid  fhall  I  rife  and  warm  you  fome 
Cloathes,  I  faid  no:  but  this  Extremity  continued  all 
Night  as  if  one  Limb  had  bin  rent  from  an  other,  and 
in  the  Morninge  me  arofe,  and  called  in  fome  neigh- 


248  Appendix. 

bors:1  this  was  on  ffriday  Night,  and  I  was  held  fo 
till  Tuefday  Morning,  as  if  I  had  bin  rent  in  Peeces; 
one  Fitt  began  at  my  Forehead,  where  the  Snake  bitt 
me,  and  ended  at  my  Knees,  and  then  the  next  Tyme 
it  began  at  my  Knees  and  ended  at  my  Forehead,  and 
in  this  Order  it  continued  all  ye  forefaid  Tyme. 

Tuefday  being  a  Day  of  Humiliation,  I  faid  to  my 
Wife,  though  I  be  ill,  yet  I  will  go  thither;  I  am 
pfwaded  I  mall  be  better,  and  fo  I  was;  but  yet  I 
haue  bin  troubled  wth  griping  Paines  euer  flnce,  and 
am  not  after  my  former  vfuall  Manner. 
[50]  April  7,  1 65 1.  Jonathan  Tayler  faith  vppon 
Oath,  that  two  Nights  before  Mary  Parfons  was  car- 
ried into  the  Bay,  I  watched  her:  fhe  faid  I  haue  two 
Things  to  fay  to  you:  one  is  I  forgiue  you  the  Wrong 
you  haue  done  me:  the  other  is  about  the  three  Snakes 
that  you  faw:  they  were  three  Witches  fd  fhe :  I  alked 
who  they  were;  me  faid  one  was  my  Hufband.  I 
afked  her  who  were  the  others,  fhe  faid  I  haue  pointed 
at  them  already:  but  you  will  not  beleeve  me;  I  am 
counted  but  as  a  Dreamer:  but  when  this  Dreamer  is 
hanged,  then  remember  what  I  faid  to  you:  y°  Towne 
will  not  be  cleere  yet:  then  faid  fhe  if  you  had  be- 
leeued  ye  Voice  that  fpake  to  you,  you  had  dyed:  but 
feeinge  you  fpake  to  it,  and  refifted  it,  it  had  not 
Power  to  kill  you:  for  you  doe  not  know  how  my 
Hufband  hath  threatned  you. 

All  fworn  in  Cort  13,  3. 
[51]   ffeb.  25,   1650.    Georg  Lankton  faith  on  Oath, 
that  his  Wife  made  a  Pudding  in  a  Bagg,  and  becaufe 
my  Wife  had   the  Child,  I   took  it  and  put  it  out  of 
the  Bagg  at  Dinner  this  Day  Fortnight  (wch  was  the 

1  That  one  attacked  with  a  raging  lifted  his  Dream  afterwards  is  proba- 

Fever  mould  dream  of  feeing  Snakes  bly  quite  as  certain  as  that  any  fuch 

or  Anything  elfe,  is  common  Expe-  Dreams    may    be  and    ufually   are 

rience.     That  this  Fellow  embel-  embellished. 


Appendix.  249 

11.  of  fFeb.)  and  as  it  flipt  out  of  the  Bagg  it  fell  into 
two  Pieces,  length  wife,  and  in  Apperance  it  was  cutt 
ftrait  along  as  fmooth  as  if  it  had  bin  cutt  with  a 
Knife.  It  was  cutt  ftrait  along  almoft  the  whole 
length:   it  lacked  but  very  little. 

Hannah  the  Wife  of  George  Lanclon  doth  vppon 
Oath  concurr  with  her  Hufband  in  the  faid  Teftimony. 
Febb  21,  1650,  George  Lancton  and  Hannah  his 
Wife  doe  ioyntly  teftifie  vppon  Oath,  that  they  had 
another  Pudding  in  the  fame  Bagg,  that  was  cutt 
lengthwife  like  vnto  ye  former,  as  fmooth  in  Appear- 
ance as  any  could  cutt  it  with  a  Knife,  namely  one 
Slice  all  alonge  the  Side  of  the  Puddinge  wantinge  but 
a  very  litle,  from  End  to  End. 

Alfo  Hannah  the  Wife  of  George  Lankton  faith 
on  Oath;  a  neighbor  came  in  and  fhe  fhewed  to  him 
how  the  Puddinge  was  cutt:  and  that  Neighbor  tooke 
a  Peece  of  it  and  threw  it  into  the  Fier:  and  fhe  faith, 
that  about  an  Hower  after,  phapps  a  little  more,  fhe 
herd  one  mutter  and  mumble  at  the  Dore;  then  fhe 
afked  Goody  Sewell,  who  was  then  at  her  Howfe  (and 
neerer  the  Dore)  who  it  was;  fhe  faid  it  was  Hugh 
Parfons,  and  that  he  afked  whether  Goodman  Lankton 
were  at  Home  or  no,  I  faid  no,  and  fo  he  went  away, 
but  left  not  his  Arrand,  neather  did  he  euer  fincecome 
to  fignifie  his  Arrand. 

Hannah  Lanclon  fworne  in  Corte  13.  3  m°. 

ffeb.  23,  1650,  George  Lankton  and  Hannah  his 
Wife  joyntly  teftifie  vppon  Oath  that  they  had  another 
Pudding  in  the  former  Bagg,  that  was  cut  lengthwife, 
and  as  it  was  flipped  out  of  the  Bagg,  it  fell  into  three 
Pts:  one  Peece  being  cutt  all  along  on  the  one  Side, 
and  two  \_^^\  Peeces  all  alonge  on  the  other  Side: 
then  they  fent  for  fome  Neighbors  to  fee  it:  Roger 
Pritchard  teftified  vppon  Oath,  that  he  faw  the  faid 
Pudding  and  it  feemed  to  him  to  be  cutt  all  the  three 

Gg 


250  Appendix. 

Peeces  as  euident  and  as  plaine  to  him  as  that  wch 
George  Lankton  cut  wth  his  Knife. 

Thes  Teftimonies  were  all  taken  vppon  Oath  before 
me  William  Pynchon. 

[3]  March  12,  18,  22,  1650.  Samuell  Marfhfeild 
faith,  vppon  Oath,  that  when  Hugh  Parfons  came  to 
pay  the  24  Bufhels  of  Indian  to  my  Mother  for  the 
discharge  of  ye  Action  of  Slander  againft  Mary  Par- 
fons, that  he  defyred  my  Mother  to  abate  20s,  but 
my  Mother  faid  me  would  not  abate,  becaufe1  fhe  herd 
that  he  had  faid  the  WitnerTes  gaue  in  a  falfe  Tefti- 
mony.  Hugh  Parfons  replied,  well,  if  you  will  not 
it  had  bin  as  good  you  had  —  it  will  be  but  as  wild 
Fier  in  ys  Howfe,  and  as  a  Moth  in  y°  Garment,  and 
it  will  doe  you  no  Good,  He  warnt  it,  and  make  Ac- 
count it  is  but  lent  you:  this  Corne  was  paid  ill  Win- 
ter was  12  Months,  and  the  Spring  after  my  Sifter 
Sara  was  taken  with  ftrange  Fitts,  at  Tymes,  but  neuer 
fo  bad  as  when  Mr  Moxon's  Children  were  taken. 

Sworne  in  Corte. 

March  22,  1650/  The  Widdow  Marfhfeld  teftifies 
vppon  Oath,  that  when  Hugh  came  to  tender  the  faid 
Corne,  he  faid,  I  here  that  you  will  abate  20s  of  the 
Money.  I  told  him  I  would  not  abate  any  Thing, 
becaufe  I  herd  that  his  Wife  had  faid  the  Witneffes 
had  taken  a  falfe  Oath:  then  faid  he,  if  you  will  not 
abate,  it  mall  be  but  as  lent  it  mail  doe  you  no  Good, 
it  mall  be  but  as  Wildfier  in  y°  Howfe,  and  as  a  Moth 
in  y°  Clothes,  and  thefe  threatning  Speeches  he  uttered 
with  much  Anger:  and  fhortly  after,  in  the  Spring, 
about  May,  my  Daughter  began  to  be  taken  with  her 
Fitts  of  Witchcraft. 

John  Lumbard  faith  vppon  Oath,  March  17  and 
22.  1650.  that  I  haue  herd  Hugh  Parfons  and  his  Wife 

1  This  word  is  abbreviated  bee'  throughout  the  MS.  and  never  fpelt  out. 


Appendix.  251 

alfo  fay  that  the  Corne  wch  they  paid  to  ye  Widdow 
Marfhfeld  for  the  Slander,  would  do  her  no  Good, 
and  that  it  had  bin  better  fhe  had  never  taken  it.  I 
haue  herd  both  her  and  him  fay  fo  feuerall  Tymes,  and 
I  haue  often  herd  him  fay,  when  he  hath  been  dif- 
pleafed  wth  any  Body,  that  he  would  be  euen  with  them 
for  it. 

[4]  Hugh  Parfons  being  prefent  anfwered  not,  but  at 
laft  he  afked,  when  did  I  giue  fuch  threatening  Wordes. 
It  was  told  him,  when  his  Corn  was  paid  in. 

Hugh  Parfons  faid  he  did  not  rember  that  he  gaue 
fuch  threateing  Word:  he  faid  that  in  iuftice  the  Corne 
was  due  to  her:  but  becaufe  we  apprhended  my  Wife 
was  falfley  accufed.  That  was  the  Reafon  of  my 
Speeches. 

Mary  Parfons  alfo  faid,  that  when  her  Hufband 
came  Home,  he  tould  her  what  Speeches  he  had  vfed 
to  the  Widdow  Marfhfeild,  namely,  according  to  ye 
Teftimonies  me  faid  it  might  well  be  fo,  for  me  was 
falfely  accufed. 

[5]  March  18.  1650.  Thomas  Miller  teftifies 
vppon  Oath  (Hugh  Parfons  being  prefent)  that  my 
Wife  being  in  one  of  her  Fitts,  March  17,  1650,  me 
faid  thus:  get  thee  gon  Hugh  Parfons,  get  thee  gonn, 
if  thow  wilt  not  goe,  I  will  goe  to  Mr.  Pynchon,  and 
he  (hall  haue  thee  away. 

Miles  Morgan,  and  Prudence  his  Wife,  and  Griffin 
Jones,  being  all  psent,  do  teftifie  the  faid  Speech  vppon 
their  Oathes. 

Then  all  the  aforefaid  pfons,  and  ffrances  Pepper  do 
teftifie  vppon  Oath,  that  it  is  an  vfuall  Thinge  wth 
Goody  Millar,  in  her  Fitts,  to  vfe  the  Word  Sirra  and 
thow  Witch. 

Prudence  Morgan  faith  vppon  Oath,  that  the  27  of 
March,  1651,  Sara  Millar  was  at  her  Howfe,  and  then 
betweene  her  Fitts  fhe  faid,  look  you,  there  is  a  Man, 


252  Appendix. 

at  Goodman  Coopers  Barne,  I  faid  no  there  is  no  Man 
there  that  I  can  fee,  me  faid  you  might  fee  him  if  you 
would.  But  now  he  is  gone  faid  (he:  then  fhe  fell  into 
a  Fitt:  and  after  fhe  came  to  herfelf,  me  faid,  look 
you,  there  he  is.  I  faid  to  her  who  is  it,  fhe  faid  it  is 
one  in  a  redd  Waftcote  and  a  lynd  Capp.  It  is  like 
Hugh  Parfons;  then  faid  fhe  he  points  his  Finger  at 
me;  he  would  haue  me  come  to  him:  but  Hugh  Par- 
fons was  gone  into  the  Bay  the  Monday  before:  but 
he  vfed  to  weare  a  red  Waftcote,  and  a  lynd  Capp. 

Samuell  Marfhfeild  faith  vppon  Oath,  that  he  came 
into  Goody  Morgans  Howfe  the  Day  aforefaid;  and 
as  foone  as  Sara  Millar  came  to  herfelfe  out  of  her 
Fitt,  me  faid  look  you,  there  he  is  :  Goody  Morgan 
afked  her  who  it  was,  me  faid,  one  in  a  red  Waftcote 
and  a  lynd  Capp:  it  is  like  Hugh  Parfons:  and  faid 
fhe,  he  pointed  his  Finger  at  me,  he  would  haue  me 
come  to  him.  [6]  I  faid  to  her  there  is  no  Body 
there  that  I  can  fee;  fhe  faid  yes,  there  he  is,  two  or 
three  times  ouer,  but  there  was  Nobody  there  that  we 
could  difcouer,  though  fhe  did  often  affirme  it. 

Sworne  in  Courte. 
[7]  March  18  1650.  John  Stebbinge1  teftifies  vp- 
pon Oath  (Hugh  Parfons  being  prfent) :  that  as  my 
Wife2  was  entring  into  one  of  her  Fitts,  fhe  looked 
vp  the  Chimney.  I  afked  her  what  fhe  looked  at,  and 
obferuing  her  Ey  fixed  on  Something,  afked  her  againe 
(for  fhe  did  not  anfwer  at  firft)  what  fhe  looked  on, 
and  fhe  faid,  with  a  Gefture  of  ftrange  Wonderment, 
O  deere!  there  hangs  Hugh  Parfons  vppon  ye  Pole  (for 

1  There  is  an  interefting  Memoir  for  the  Genealogy  of  the  Stebbins 

of  the  Stebbinge  Family,  but    the  Family,  Vol.  V,  Pages  71  and  351. 
Writer   had    no    Knowledge    that 

Members    participated     in     Witch  :2  I  find  on  the  Springfield  Re- 

Tranfaclions.      Savage  is  equally  in  cords — "3  :  14:  1646,  John  Steb- 

the  Dark.     See  the   New   England  bins  and  Mary    [worn   off]    were 

Hiftorical  and  Genealogical  Regijter  married. 


Appendix.  253 

there  flood  a  fmale  Pole  vppright  in  ye  Chimy  Corner) 
and  then  fhe  gave  a  Start  backward,  and  faid,  Oh!  he 
will  fall  vppon  me:  and  at  that  Inflant  fhe  fell  downe 
into  her  Fitt. 

Rowland  Stebbing  being  psfent,  doth  alfo  teftifiethe 
fame  vppon  Oath. 

William  Brooks  teftifies  vppon  Oath,  March  18, 
1650,  that  the  fame  Day  that  Hugh  Parfons  was  ap- 
prhended,  and  about  the  fame  Tyme  of  the  Day  that 
the  Coneftable  brought  him  alonge  by  the  Dore  of 
Goody  Stebbing,  fhe  was  firft  taken  wth  her  Fitts,  and 
cryed,  Ah!  Witch!  Ah!  Witch!  iuft  as  he  was  pann- 
ing by  the  Gate. 

[9]1  Hugh  Parfons  at  his  Examination,  March  1, 
1650,  being  afked  whether  he  thought  there  was  not 
fome  Witchcraft  in  the  Diftemper  of  Mr.  Moxons 
Children,  faid,  I  queftion  not  but  there  is  Witchcraft 
in  it:  but  I  wifh  the  Sadie  may  befett  vppon  the  right 
Horfe,  being  demanded  who  was  the  right  Horfe, 
and  whether  he  knew  of  Anybody  elfe,  he  faid 
no,  I  am  cleare  for  myfelf,  neather  do  I  fufpect  any 
other.  Being  afked  whether  he  had  any  Grounds  to 
fufpect  his  Wife,  he  anfwered  no,  I  do  not  know  that  - 
euer  I  had  any  fuch  Thought  of  her. 

March  22,  1650.  Jonathan  Taylor2  faith  vppon 
Oath,  that  the  fame  Day  that  Mary  Parfons  went  to 
be  examined  to  Mr.  Pynchons:  Hugh  Parfons  came 
to  me  to  Mericks  Barne,  and  faid  that  he  had  often 
bin  afraid  that  his  Wife  was  a  Witch:  and  her  Exa- 
mination was  the  Day  before  his.  Jonathan  Taylor 
alfo  faith  vppon  Oath,  that  Hugh  Parfons  tould  him 
that  he  hath  fo  farr  fufpected  his  Wife  to  be  a  Witch, 

1  Page  8  of  the  original  MS.  is  Daughter,  born  1 :  6 :  1 649,  which 
blank.  was  named  Mary.    He  was  doubtlefs 

2  There  is  a  Record  that  Jona-  married  elfewhere,  as  no  Record  of 
than  Taylor  had  by  Wife  Mary,  a  his  Marriage  appears  at  Springfield. 


2  54-  Appendix. 

that  he  would  haue  ferched  her,  and  file  refitted  for  me 
tould  him  it  was  an  imodeft  Thinge. 
[10]  March  13,  1650.  William  Branch1  faith  vp- 
pon  Oath,  that  he  hath  often  herd  Hugh  Parfons  fay, 
when  he  is  difpleafed  wth  Anybody,  I  do  not  queftion 
but  I  mall  be  euen  with  him  at  one  Tyme  or  other: 
I  rember  he  faid  fo  of  Goodman  Bridgman,  vppon 
the  Difference  that  was  between  them  abl  a  Tree:  and 
I  herd  him  fay  he  would  fitt  Jo  Mathewes,  fpeaking 
about  the  Bargaine  of  Brickes. 

[11]  Jonathan  Taylor  faith  vppon  Oath,  March  21, 
1650.  That  when  I  was  at  the  Howfe  of  Hugh  Par- 
fons this  Winter,  and  he  tould  me  that  he  had  bin  at 
Mr.  Pynchons  to  gett  as  much  Whitleather  as  to 
make  a  Cappe  for  a  Flayle,  and  he  was  willinge.  But 
Symon2,  would  not  let  him  haue  any:  it  had  been  as 
good  faid  he,  he  had,  he  mail  get  Nothing  by  it.  I 
will  be  euen  wth  him.  Mary  Parfons  faid,  Hufband 
why  do  you  threaten  the  fellow  fo,  it  is  like  he  was 
bufy:  he  anfwered  againe,  if  Goodman  Cooly  or  any 
One  elfe  that  he  had  liked  had  come  he  mould  haue 
had  it.     But  He  rember  him. 

Depofed  before  ye  Court  17:  m40:  1651. 

Edward  Rawson,  Secret. 

All  the  Teftimonies  thus  far  taken  vppon  Oath  be- 
fore me  William  Pynchon. 

Maij  20th,  1651.3    The  Depofition  of  Symon  Be- 
mon   on   Oath.       This    Deponent   fayth,    that   about 

1  The  fame  probably  who  was     appear.     He  was  a  Servant  to  Mr. 
made  a  Freeman,   1648  ;  married,     Pynchon. 

according  to    Springfield    Records, 

7:  7:  1643,  Joanna  Farnam,  at  3  The  two  following  Teftimonies 
"Winfore."  He  died  16  Sep-  are  inferted  in  the  original  MS.  thus 
tember,  1683.  —  Ibid.  out  of  their  Order,  becaufe    there 

happened  to  be  blank  Leaves,  as  it 

2  Simon  Beamon,  as  will  prefently     would  feem . 


Appendix.  255 

ffebry  laft,  Hugh  Parfons  came  to  him,  in  his  Matters 
[Mr.  Pynchon's]  Name,  for  a  Peice  of  Whitleather, 
to  make  a  Cap  for  a  Flayle,  and  that  he  having  his 
Horfes  then  in  the  Cart,  and  going  out  with  them 
into  the  Woods,  told  him  he  could  not  now  ftay  to 
giue  it  him,  but  another  Tyme  he  would.  Now  the 
fame  day  after,  he  beinge  loaden  wth  a  Peice  of  Tym- 
ber  vnder  ye  Cart,  and  cominge  Home  the  Horfes  fet 
a  runninge  fodainly,  as  if  they  were  fkared,  and  yet  he 
faw  Nothing  yl  mould  Ikare  them.  And  as  he  held 
back  the  Thilhorfe  to  ftay  them,  he  was  beaten  down 
wth  the  Cart,  and  if  in  his  Fall  he  had  not  put  off  the 
Thilhorfe  with  a  Kick  of  his  Foote,  the  Cart  Wheele 
had  run  over  him;  it  went  over  Part  of  his  Jackett, 
and  clofe  to  his  Body,  and  one  of  the  Wheels  ran 
over  a  greate  Stubb  of  Pine,  2  Foote  and  halfe  high 
at  leaft,  and  yet  ye  Cart  did  not  overturne.  I  thought 
there  was  fome  Mifcheife  in  it  from  Hugh  Parfons, 
for  my  Horfes  had  often  gon  that  Rode,  and  never  did 
ye  like  before,  nor  ever  fince. 

Depofed  before  the  Court  17  ,*,  1651. 

Edw:  Rawson,  Secret*. 

[12]  This  Deponent  alfoe  fayth  vpon  Oath,  that 
about  the  End  of  laft  Sumer,  he  beinge  at  the  Mill  to 
fetch  Home  Meale,  Hugh  Parfons  being  there,  defired 
him  to  carry  Home  a  Bag  of  Meale  for  him;  but  he 
refufinge  to  do  it,  Hugh  Parfons  was  offended  at  his 
Refufall:  and  when  he  was  gon  about  fix  Rod  from 
the  Mill,  his  Horfe  beinge  a  gentle  quiet  Horfe,  he 
fell  downe  from  the  Horfe  and  the  Meale  vpon  him. 
He  layd  his  Meale  on  the  Horfe  agayne,  got  vp  and 
was  well  fetled,  and  beinge  gon  about  2  or  3  Rod 
further,  he  fell  downe  agayne,  and  the  Meale  vpon 
him,  and  yet  the  Horfe  never  ftarted  to  occafion  it. 
He  layd  vp  his  Sack  agayne,  the  3  Tyme,  and  got  vp, 


256  Appendix. 

and  when  he  was  well  fetled,  and  gon  a  Rod  or  two 
further,  he  fell  doune  agayne,  and  the  fack  vpon  him, 
and  yet  ye  Horfe  ftoode  quietly  in  his  Place.  And 
the  4th  Tyme  he  laid  it  vp  and  came  away.1 

Teftefyed  vpon  Oath  befo.  me,      Henry  Smith.2 

Depofed  before  the  Courte,  17  *0,  1651. 

Edward  Rawson,  Secrety. 

[What  is  on  Pages  11  and  12,  is  in  the  Hand- 
writing of  Henry  Smith,  before  whom  the  Depofition 
was  given.     The  two  laft  Lines  are  Rawfon's.] 

[13]  William  Branch  faith  vppon  Oath,  March  13, 
1650.  That  about  2.  y.  fince  when  I  liued  in  Towne, 
and  when  I  went  to  Bed  about  two  Howers  wthin 
Night,  and  before  I  was  a  fleepe,  there  was  a  Light  all 
ouer  the  Chamber,  like  Fier,  and  there  came  a  Thing 
vppon  me  like  a  little  Boy,  wtk  a  Face  as  red  as  Fyer, 
and  put  his  Hand  vnder  my  Chin,  as  I  apprhended: 
and  I  felt  fome  Thinge  like  fcaldinge  Water  on  my 
Back,  and  then  I  herd  a  Voice  fayinge,  it  is  done,  it 
is  done;  then  I  waked  my  Wife  and  told  her  of  it, 
and  I  haue  been  ill  euer  fince.  I  haue  thought  Hugh 
Parfons  to  be  naught  and  haue  bin  troubled  that  he 
hath  made  fo  many  [  ]  Arrandes  to  my  Howfe  for 
feueral  Thinges,  and  yet  I  could  not  tell  how  to  denie 
him  what  he  defyred. 

William  Branch  faith  vppon  Oath,  that  at  Summer 
was  twelve  Monthes,  I  went  to  the  long  Meddow,  and 

1  If  the  Fellow  told  the  Truth  2  Mr.  Smith  was  then  in  Bofton, 

about  falling  from   his   Horfe,    he  a  Member  of  the   General  Court, 

was  doubtlefs  too  drunk  to  keep  on.  He  was  Mr.  Pynchon's  Son-in-Jaw, 

The  feveral  Falls  muft  have  fobered  having  married  his  Daughter  Anne, 

him    in    fome    Degree.       He    was  This  Record  by  Smith  was  entered 

careful  not  to  tell  how  long  he  laid  in  Mr.  Pynchon's  MS.  out  of  chro- 

on   the  Ground   before   he  finally  nological  Order,  becaufe  there  hap- 

fucceeded  in  "  coming  away."  pened  to  be  a  Blank  fufficiently  large. 


Appendix.  257 

as  I  was  going  before  Hugh  Parfons  dore,  I  was 
taken  with  a  ftrange  StiffnefTe  in  my  two  Thighes,  as 
if  two  Stakes  had  bin  bound  to  my  two  Thighes :  fo 
that  I  was  faint  to  thruft  myfelfe  forwarde  with  great 
Difficulty  :  and  this  StiffnelTe  continued  all  that  Day: 
after  this  I  fell  into  fuch  a  Diftemper  as  burninge 
Heat  in  the  Bottoms  of  my  Feet  that  I  neuer  had 
the  like  before,  and  this  Heat  in  ye  Bottoms  of  my 
Feete  continued  neere  12  Monthes  er  I  was  well.  I 
thought  then  it  was  fome  Worke  of  Witch  Craft 
(from  him)  and  fo  I  think  to  this  Day. 

Theis  laft  two  Teftimonies  were  taken  vppon  Oath 
before  me  William  Pynchon. 

[14]   Blank. 

[is]1 

[16  to  22]  Blank. 

[1]  Teftimonies  about  Sara  Millar  and  An  Stebbings 
againft  Hugh  Parfons.  Taken  vppon  Oath  before 
me  William  Pynchon. 

[2]  Jonathan  Taylor  on  Oath  faith  fometime  this  Win- 
ter, on  a  Night,  a  Paire  of  good  Mr.  Mathews  Pajles 
fell  doune  wth  a  Noyfe,  and  going  out  prfently  to  fee 
the  Occafion  thereof,  could  not  pceaue  any  Thing; 
but  going  into  his  Howfe  againe,  it  being  very  darke. 
Hugh  Parfons  was  at  his  Backe,  his  Hand  on  his 
Doore  afTbone  as  his  was  of.  he  bidding  him  fitt 
doune  which  he  did.  Parfons  faying  Goodman  Collys 
Boy  Nothing  but  beat  my  Calfe.  his  Mafter  will  take 
no  Order  with  him  but  I  will  :  anon  after  Goody 
Coolly  came  and  inquired  after  her  Boy  whether  this 
Deponent  had  feen  him  he  telling  her  no  :  (he  replyed 
I  fent  him  to  Goodman   Mathue  a  good  Whiles  fince 

1  On  Page    1 5    of   the  original     which  has  been  given  in  a  previous 
MS.   was  inferted    the  Indictment,     Page. 

Hh 


258  Appendix. 

and  cannot  tell  what  is  become  of  him,  and  defired 
him  this  Deponent  to  help  her  looke  him  which  he 
did  in  all  the  Hay  Mowes  and  out  Howfes  wth  hoop- 
ing and  hallouing  for  him  but  could  not  find  him  nor 
heare  of  him:  at  laft  they  gaue  ouer  looking  him,  and 
ys  Deponent  enquired  of  yc  fajd  Goody  Cooly  whether 
Hugh  Parfons  had  not  met  him  and  tooke  Order  wth 
him,  as  he  thretned  him  for  beating  his  Calfe:  and 
after  they  were  parted  a  While  the  Boy  came  Home, 
and  his  Dame  afking  him  where  *ihe  had  bin,  he  fajd 
in  a  great  Cellar  and  was  carried  headlong  into  it, 
Hugh  Parfons  going  before  him,  and  fell  down  [with 
mee~\  there,  and  afterwards  he  \_willed~\  into  it.* 

[The  above  is  all  in  the  Hand  of  Secretary  Rawfon, 
and  was  taken  at  Bofton  after  the  Cafe  was  fent  here. 
It  ends  abruptly,  and  no  Ufe  was  probably  made  of 
it.] 


No.  2. 

DEPOSITIONS   and  other  Papers   connected  with 
the  Proceedings  againji  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Morfe  of 
Newbury,  under  the  Charge  of  Witchcraft. 

Elizabeth  Titcomb,  aged  about  fifty.2  After  ye 
Burning  of  Apples  at  Enfigne  Greenleaf,  I  was  foone 
troubled  at  my  Houfe  with  a  Noyes  knocking  at  ye 
Dore  which  did  awake  mee  out  of  a  found  Sleepe:  ye 
firft  knocking  I  lay  ftill  harkening  for  to  hear  a  Voice, 
and  none  I  heard:   I  thought  Somebody  did  want  my 

1  The  Words  between  thefe  *  *  am  unable  to  make  them  all   out. 
are  written  on  the  outer  Margin  of         a  William      Titcomb      married 

the    Paper    and    then    erafed    (but  Elizabeth  Stevens,  March  3d,  1654. 

wherefore  does  not  appear),  and  I  She  was  his  fecond  Wife. 


Appendix.  259 

help  knocking  a  fecond  Time;  but  I  heard  no  Voyce: 
a  third  Time  I  heard  knocking;  then  I  went  forth, 
and  called  to  my  Daughter  Lydia:  afked  her  if  (hee 
did  heare  yc  Noyes.  Shee  faid,  Yes.  Then  I  opened 
my  Chamber  Dore,  and  faide,  Who  are  you?  What 
is  your  bufines?  But  no  Voyce.  So  I  confidered  yl 
I  had  no  Call  to  goe  to  ye  Dore,  and  begg'd  of  God 
to  give  mee  Reft:  but  I  was  much  difturbed  by  the 
vyoulent  Motion  of  a  Creature  which  I  did  never 
know  before  nor  fince. 

Lydia  Titcomb  affirmeth  the  fame  about  the  Noyes. 
The  fame  Peniel  Titcome1  affirmes. 

[The  laft  Paragraph  is  in  the  Autograph  of  Mr.  John 
TVoodbridge,  the  CommiffionerJ] 

The  Depofetion  of  Jonathan  Woodman,2  aged 
aboute  thirty  fiue  Yeres,  who  teftifieth  and  faith,  that, 
aboute  feuen  Yers  agoe,  beeing  going  Home  in  a  darke 
Night  from  Inline  Grenleffe  apon  the  Grene  at 
Wolchis3  Seler,  I  met  with  a  white  Thing  like  a  Cat, 
which  did  playe  at  my  Legs,  and  I  did  offen  cicke  at 
it,  haueng  no  Wepon  in  my  Hand;  at  laft  ftrocke  it 
with  my  fut  againft  the  Fenfe  nerre  I  frail  Webftars 
Houfe,  and  there  it  ftopt  with  a  loud  cry  aftar  the 
Manar  of  a  Cat  and  I  fee  it  no  more.  I  furdar  teftifie, 
that  William  Morfe  of  Neubury  did  owne  that  hee  did 
fend  for  a  Docktar  for  his  Wife  the  fame  Night  and 

1  Son  of  William,  mentioned  in  earlieft  Mention  of  the  Name  which 
the  laft  Note,  by  Joanna  Bartlet.  I  have  met  with.  There  is  no 
He  was  29  Years  old.  Lydia  Tit-  Name  of  Waljb  in  Coffin's  Lift  of 
come  was  his  Sifter.  Her  Age  was  16.     the  early  Inhabitants  of  Newbury, 

nor   has   Savage   the  Name  at  all. 

9  The  fixth  Child  of  Mr.  Ed-  The  Name  probably  exifted  there 
ward  and  Joanna  Woodman  of  till  1 800,  at  leaft.  Michael  Walch 
Newbury,  born  November  8,  1648,  there  compiled  and  published  the 
m.  Hannah  Hilton.  Mercantile  Arithmetic ,  flrftin  1801, 

a    Work    of   great    Popularity    for 

3  Walfh,  no  doubt.     This  is  the     more  than  a  Quarter  of  a  Century. 


260  Appendix. 

fame  Time  of  Night  that  I  wafe  troubled  with  that 
Cat  abouefe  mentioned,  whitch  wafe  fom  Grounds  of 
Sefpition,  but  there  wafe  Nothing  in  it,  bee  cafe  har 
Hort  in  har  Hed  wafe  don  to  or  three  Dayes  before 
theye  fent  for  the  Docktar  by  Somth.'ng  falling  out  of 
the  Chimly.  He  fordar  fayd  that  fhee  feme  to  macke 
letell  of  it  tell  that  Night  abouefe  mentioned  and  then 
greue  uery  bad  that  hee  wafe  forft  to  fend  for  the 
Docktar. 

Taken  on  Oath  [by  Mr.  Woodbridge]  Jan.  7th, 
1679. 

[To  this  ridiculous  Teftimony  Mr.  Morfe  faid,  in 
his  Petition  of  May  14th,  1681:  "Jonathan  Wood- 
man feeing  a  Cat,  and  ftriking  at  it,  and  its  vanifhing 
away;  and  I  fending  for  Doctor  Dole1  to  fee  a  Bruife 
my  Wife  had  by  the  Fall  of  a  Peece  [Gun  ?]  reaching 
downe  fome  Bacan  in  our  Chimly,  which  was  many 
Days  before  this  Time,  as  Doctor  Dole  affirms  it  was 
no  green  Wound,  though  [IJ  neglected  to  fend  for 
faid  Dole  till  then." 

The  moft  that  can  be  faid  in  defence  of  that  Tefti- 
mony is,  that  Woodman  probably  ftumbled  upon  a 
Skunk  as  he  was  croffing  the  Evening  Ramble  of  that 
well  known  Animal.  That  an  Attack  was  made  on 
him  by  the  Animal,  whatever  it  was,  was  doubtlefs  an 
Embellifhment  of  his  Imagination.] 

The  Teftimony  [of]  Benniamin  Richardfon  aged 
a  bought  twenty  on  Yeares,  teftifieth  and  faith,  that  as 
I    came   in  the   Morning  from    Cofon   Tuckkers,    a 


1  John  Dole  of  Newbury,  Son  John  Dole  was  the  Father  of  Dr. 

of  Richard,  who  came  to  Newbury  Benjamin  Dole  of  Hampton,  who 

from   Briftol,    England,    in     1639.  married  Frances,  Daughter  of  Capt. 

John  was  born  Auguft  10th,   1648,  Samuel  Sherburne  of  that  Town, 

and    hence   was  but  about  twenty-  Dr.    Benjamin  died   at    Hampton, 

four  Years  of  Age  in   1672,  when  May  8th,  1707,  and  was  buried  in 

the  Cat  attacked  Woodman.     Dr.  the  old  Burying-ground  there. 


Appendix.  261 

bought  three  Wekes  or  a  Month  a  goe,  by  the  Cornor 
of  good  Man  MofTes  Houfe,  I  heard  the  Boy,  John 
Stiles,  cry  out,  and  faid,  the  Houfe  is  a  Fire,  the 
Houfe  is  a  Fire.  Then  Goodman  Mos  fee  mee,  made 
Sines  and  winckt  to  mee  to  com  to  fe  where  I  could 
fpy  any  Thing.  Then  I  went  in  and  went  up  the 
Stairs,  and  then  he  barckt  lick  a  Dog  and  yould  lick 
[a]  Cat;  and  then  he  grouled,  and  his  Heare  ftood 
up  on  End;  and  than  he  gumpt  out  of  that  Bed  and 
went  into  a  nother  Bed,  and  ther  was  a  Bord  that 
leand  againft  the  Cheft  and  flue  from  the  Cheft  and 
ftruck  the  Boy;  and  furdor  I  fee  a  (heap  a  friueled 
Hand  to  ftrik  the  Boy.1 

Taken  on  Oath,  Jan.  7:  1679. 

The  Teftemona  of  David  Wilier  [Wheeler]2  aged 
abovt  54  Yeres  or  therabovt:  teftefieth  yt  I  took  Notis 
of  feeverrall  PafTagys:  as  forft  of  her  akhenfons  yl  fhe 
woold  vfhally  be  diging  and  crobbing  ye  Ground  with 
ye  Eand  of  a  Staff  wich  I  never  took  Notis  of  anny 
Parfon  yl  ackted  in  yc  lieak  Manner:  forther,  ye  fayed 
David  Willir  heaving  a  Heeffer  abovt  3  or  4  Yeer 
ovld,  yl  came  Home  ovt  of  ye  Woods  on  Day,  was 
chawed  vppon  yc  Back  abovt  ye  Breath  of  a  Hand; 
and  abovt  a  Fortneatt  after  was  chaw  on1  ye  other  Siead 
by  yl  abovt  as  mech  moor:  and  ye  fayed  Heffer  grew 
ill  and  wold  fvmtims  go  into  yc  Riveer  fo  deep,  vntill 
yc  Watter  tovch  her  Noos,  and  me  ftvd  ther  vntill 
fvm  of  ovr  Fammelee  weer  forfed  to  vaed  to  facht  her 
ovt  to  fave  her  from  dronding:  and  ye  fame  Heffer 
yt  is  above  menfhened,  beeing  miffing  we  covld  nott 
fiend  her  fvm  confeederabell  Tieme:   after  wards  wee 

1  This  Benjamin  Richardfon  was  2  David  Wheeler    was    born  in 

Son  of  William  by  his  Wife  Eliza-  Salisbury,    England,    1625;    went 

beth  Wifeman,  whom  he  married  from  Hampton  to  Newbury,  1645  ; 

23   Auguft,    1654.     He  was  born  married    Sarah    Wife,     11    May, 

13  March,  1657.     See  Coffin.  1650. — Coffin. 


262  Appendix. 

fovnd  her  in  a  ovt  Hovfe  yl  had  no  other  PafTege  anny 
other  Way  bvt  a  fmall  Gap  we  had  cvtt  for  fmall 
Caves:  and  I  was  verely  p  erf  waded  that  the  Heifer  was 
bewitched,  and  Goodwife  Morfe  was  the  Occafion  of  it. 
Taken  on  Oath,  Jan.  yth,  1679. 

[The  Addition  in  Italics  is  in  the  Hand  of  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge^ 

The  Depofition  of  Johua  Richardfon,1  aged  a 
bought  thirty  Years:  teftifieth  and  faith,  that  a  bought 
fiue  Years  a  goe,  then  I  had  three  Sheep  to  driue  to 
Hamton:  and  when  I  came  doune  the  Street  I  thought 
it  beft  to  cech  my  Sheep  at  good  Man  Morfles  Barne, 
becafe  it  was  neare  my  Canue  that  was  to  carry  them 
our  the  riuer;  and  good  Man  Mors  Cow  Houfe  Dore 
flood  open  next  the  Hie  Way,  and  I  loock  in  and  I 
faw  Nothing  there:  fo  I  droue  my  Sheep  into  the 
Cowhoufe,  and  as  I  was  a  ceching  the  Sheep,  Gooddi 
Morfe  came  out,  and  was  mighty  with  mee:  and  faid 
I  had  better  afke  Leaue,  and  I  went  away  with  my 
Sheap:  and  when  I  came  to  Hamton,  abought  to 
Ours  after,  the  Sheep  weare  all  fick,  and  did  fome  at 
the  Mouths,  and  one  of  them  died  prefently;  and 
they  afkt  mee  where  I  cecht  the  Sheep?  and  I  tould 
them  in  Mors  Cow  Hous;  and  they  faid  they  did 
beleue  they  wer  bewicht,  and  fo  do  I  to. 

Taken  on  Oath,  Jan.  yth,  1679. 

[In  the  Autograph  of  the  Deponent.  The  laft  Line  by 
JVoodbridge."] 

[To  the  Testimony  of  Jofhua  Richardfon,  Mr. 
Morfe  replies  (in  his  Petition  before  mentioned),  as 
to  his  ccloofing  a  Shepe,  and  his  taking  it  forth  off 
our  Yeard,  and  my  Wife  mould  fay  you  might  have 
afked  Leave,  and  whether  overdriving  it  or  what,  now 
to  bring  it  in  1  hope  will  be  confidered." 

1  A  Jofhua  Richardfon  of  New-  January,  1679.  She  died  7  March, 
bury  married    Mary     Parker,    31      1685. — Coffin. 


Appendix.  263 

That  Richardfon  caufed  the  death  of  his  Sheep  by 
overdriving  them  on  a  hot  Day,  might  have  been  a 
common-fenfe  Explanation,  if  Witchcraft  had  not 
taken  the  Place  of  common  Senfe  in  the  bewildered 
Brains  of  the  People.] 

The  Teftemony  of  Caleb  Moody,1  aged  42  Yearfe, 
teftphieth  and  fayeth,  that  I  having  lived  nere  to 
Elizabeth  Mors  about  twenty  Yeers,  I  haue  loft 
feurall  Catell  in  a  ufiall  \_Jic~\  maner.  About  16 
Years  a  goe  I  had  fume  difrans  with  the  feyd  Mofe; 
the  next  Morning  one  of  my  beft  Hogs  lay  deed  in  the 
Yrd,  and  no  natrial  Cafe,  that  I  know  of:  at  another 
Time  the  fayd  Elifebeth  Mors  came  to  me  leat  of  a 
Satrdye  Nite  and  defird  me  to  goe  to  Mr.  Wodbg  his 
Store  to  fe  after  her  Hufbnd.  I  tould  her  I  did  not 
aprhd  any  Denger  of  hime.  The  next  Morning  I 
fent  my  eldeft  Sone  to  the  Houfe  to  inquier  whether 
her  Hufbnd  was  come  Home.  The  Lad  came  home 
and  tould  me  that  he  was  come  Home,  and  that  fhe 
the  fayed  Elizabeth  Morfe  tould  hime  that  I  had  ben 
as  good  I  had  gone  to  loke  after  her  Hufband.  That 
uery  Morning,  as  I  was  afterwards  informed  by  John 
Ordwaye,2  that  as  he  was  driuing  out  the  Flock  of 
Shep,  that  he  then  cept,  one  of  my  Sheepe  laye  done 
and  dyed.  At  another  Time  I  had  a  Cowe  wafe 
fudenly  tacken  in  a  uery  ftronge  Maner,  and  tumled 
ovr  Logs  that  layd  in  the  Yord,  and  ftrived  to  turne 
reerd  upon  her  Heade,  and  fo  continued  a  while,  and 

1  He  was  Ton  of  William  Moody,  2  The  Father  of  this  John  Ord- 
who  came  from  Ipfwich  old  Eng-  way,  named  James,  came  from 
land,  to  Newbury,  in  1635.  See  Wales  it  is  faid,  but  at  what  Time 
Founders  of  New  England,  70.  he  arrived  in  New  England  is  not 
His  fecond  Wife  was  Judith  Brad-  known.  John  married  Mary  God- 
bury,  whom  he  married  9  Nov.,  frey,  December  5th,  168 1,  and  had 
1665.  He  died  25  Auguft,  1698,  a  large  Family  of  Children. — 
aged  61.  On  the  Lift  of  Paflen-  Coffin.  The  Name  may  originally 
gers  his  Name  ftands  Moudy.  have  been  Hardway. 


264  Appendix. 

rofe  vp  agayne,  and  went  awaye.     After  this   I   fawe 
the  fame    Cowe    coming    doune    the    Hill    by    Wm. 
Morfes  Houfe,  and  I  fawe  the  feyed  Elizabeth  Morfe 
ftand  without  the  Doare,  and  my  Cowe  fall  in  to  the 
like  ftrange  Condition,  as  fhe  did  before,  and  tumbled 
into  a  Guter  or  Guly  that  was  worne  with  the  Runing 
of  the   Water:    after   fhe    recoured    and    went    awaye 
Home.     At  another  Time,  of  a  Sabath   Daye  Morn- 
ing, one  of  my  Cous,  great  with  Calfe,  was  turnd  in  to 
the  Stale  with   her   Head  under  her,   ftone  dead;    in 
fuch  a  Maner  that  I  could  not  thinke  it  pofable  for  a 
Cow  to  pute  herfelf  in  to  fuch  a  Place,  but  conclud  the 
Diuell  by  fume  Inurement  did  it;   and  feurall  that  faw 
it  did  faye  they  were  of  the  fame   Minde,  or  Wrds  to 
that  Porpofe.     At  an  other  Time,  about  thre  or  four 
Yers  a  goe,  in  the  Sumer  Time,  I  had  a  fouryeareold 
Hefer  that  was  brout  out  of  the  Woods  with  a  Calf 
about  thre  Weeks  old,  and  I    [put]  theme  into  my 
Paftir,  neere  to  the  fayed  Morfes   Houfe,  and  let  her 
goe  there  2  or  3    Dayes  with  her  Calf,  to  ufer  to  the 
Plaefe.     Then  I  went  to  teacke  awaye  the  Calf  to  kill 
it,  the   Heifer  femed  to   tacke  no   Notis  of  the  Calf 
when  I  fetchd  it  a  waye,  whitch  maed  me  to  maruill, 
ceafe  fhe  was  uery  fond  of  her  Calf;   after  the  Calf  was 
kild  I  went  to  fe  what  wafe  the  Mater  with  the  Heifer, 
and    fhe    was    leyed    doune   in   a   fhedy   Plafe  among 
Thorne    Bufhes,  and  would   nether  eat  nor  chew  her 
Coad  for  fevrall  Dayfe;   and  as  I  was  trying  to  get  er 
Hed  vp  I  few  the  feyed   Elifbeth   Mors  within  about 
5  or  6   Rods  of;   fo   I   drove  the   Heifer  a  waye,  but 
fhe  would   not  feed;   after  words   I  went  agyne  to  fee 
what  would  become  of  her,  and  fhe  wafe  layd  doune 
agayne  in  the  fame  Plafe  and  I  loked  vp  and  faw  the 
fayed  Elizabeth  Morfe  nere  the  fame  Plafe  wher  I  had 
fene  her  before,  and   this   I   did,   to   the   befl  of  my 
M emery  three  or  four  Times;   the  Heifer  lay  ner  the 


Appendix.  265 

fame  Plafe,  and  the  fayed  Elizabeth  Mors  was  with  in 
Sight.  I  do  not  rememer  that  I  did  fe  her  come  or 
goe  a  waye,  but  faw  her  at  onfe  whitch  did  meack  me 
uery  mutch  fufpedfc  me  had  bewitched  my  Heifer; 
farther  I  do  teftiphie  that  about  a  Munth  or  fiue 
Weeks  a  goe,  Wm.  Foning  boroued  my  Meore  to  goe 
to  Mill  and  being  in  my  Pafter  neere  to  the  feyd 
Morfes  Houfe,  after  Sonefeat,  I  herd  Wm.  Foning 
[Faning]  at  the  feyed  Mofes  Barne  talking  with  him 
about  John  Stiles,  and  I  herd  the  fayd  Foning  threten 
to  breack  his  Bonfe.  The  next  Morning  John  Hall 
came  over  to  my  Houfe  and  tould  me  that  Wm.  Fon- 
ing had  cald  at  his  Houfe  before  Daye  and  tould  him 
that  he  was  muth  frited  with  a  Cat  in  Capt.  Peerfes 
Paftur. 

Taken  on  Oath  Jan.  jtb,  1679.  \_By  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge^ 

[In  the  Handwriting  of  the  Deponent.] 

[To  the  mocking  Nonfenfe  of  Caleb  Moody, 
brought  up  after  a  Lapfe  of  fome  ten  Years,  Mr.  Morfe 
makes  the  following  mild  Reply  (in  the  before-men- 
tioned Petition):  "As  to  what  befel  him  in  and 
about  his  not  feeing  my  Wife:  that  his  Cow  making  no 
Hafte  to  hir  Calfe,  which  wee  are  ignorant  of,  it  being 
fo  long  fince;  and  [he]  being  in  Church  Communion 
with  us,  fhculd  have  fpoken  of  it  like  a  Chriftian  and 
yn  proceeded  fo  as  wee  might  have  given  an  Anfwer  in 
lefs  Time  yn  tenn  Yeares.  Wee  are  ignorant  y*  he  had 
a  Shepe  fo  dyed.  And  his  Wife,  known  to  be  a  Pre- 
tious  Godly  Woman,  yt  hath  oftne  fpoken  to  hir  Huf- 
band  not  to  be  fo  uncharitable,  and  have  and  doe  carry 
it  like  a  Chriftian  with  a  due  Refpect  in  her  Carridge 
towards  my  Wife  all  along."] 

The  Teftemony  of  Wm.  Faning,  aged  about  36 
Yeers,  teftiphieth  and  fayeth,  that  about  a  Month  or  five 
Weeks  agoe,  liuing  neere  to  Wiliam  Morfes,  in  the 

Ii 


266  Appendix. 

Euning,  quickly  after  Sone  feat,  I  faw  John  Stiles 
ftanding  by  Mr.  Denifons  Couehous  and  I  afked  him 
what  was  the  bed  News  att  their  Houfe,  and  he  tould 
mee  that  there  was  feuerall  Hundreds  of  Diuels  in 
the  Ever,1  and  they  would  be  att  their  Houfe  by  and 
by,  and  they  would  be  att  my  Hous  a  non:  and  that 
very  Night  ey  [I]  went  to  Sargent  Moodeys  Hous, 
which  is  my  Neighbor,  and  borrowed  his  Mare  to  go 
to  Mill;  and  I  went  to  Mill  with  two  Bufhels  of 
Corn  and  got  it  ground;  and  when  I  came  back 
againe,  in  John  Hals  Pafture,  the  Mare  began  to 
ftartell  and  fnort,  and  rared  vp  on  End,  fo  that  I  could 
not  gett  her  forward ;  and  I  loocked  downe  vpon  the 
Mars  Head  I  fpied  a  great  whit  Cat  without  a  Tayl 
vpon  my  Breft  and  me  had  faft  hold  of  my  Neckcloth 
and  Coat.  I  haueing  a  good  Stick  in  my  Hand,  I 
ftroock  her  off.  And  againe  the  Cat  was  a  coming 
up  vpon  my  left  Side,  I  toock  my  Stick  in  my  left 
Hand  and  ftroock  her  down  againe;  then  I  alighted, 
and  as  foon  as  I  alighted  the  Catt  came  between  my 
Legs,  fo  that  I  could  not  well  go  forward;  and  watch- 
ing my  Opportunity  I  ftroock  her  a  uery  great  Blow 
up  againft  a  Tree,  and  after  that  I  ftroock  her  another 
Blow  which  made  her  lay  for  dead,  and  I  went  pre- 
fentJy  to  John  Hals  Houfe,  and  he  was  abed.  I  caled 
to  him  and  defiered  him  that  he  would  go  to  futch  a 
Tree  and  there  I  thought  he  would  find  a  dead  Catt, 
and  I  went  ftraight  way  Home  and  told  my  Wife,  and 
tould  her  what  I  had  met  with  all. 

Taken  on  Oath  Jan.  yth,  1679.  D?7  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge^ 

[The  above ^  as  far  as  the  Mention  of  cc  Mr.  Denifon 
Couehoufe"  is  in  the  Hand  of  Caleb  Moody.'] 

1  Perhaps  now  eyre;  if  fo,  the  the  Devils  were  on  their  way.  But 
Meaning  of  the  Word  is  plain,  vh  :     poffibly  he  meant  in  the  air. 


Appendix.  267 

[Morfe's  Anfwer  to  Fanning*  s  Teftimony  could  not 
have  been  very  fatisfactory  to  himfelf.  It  feems  to 
have  been  dictated  with  as  little  Senfe  as  the  Tefti- 
mony. It  is  thus  reported  in  the  Petition:  "To 
William  Fanning  mould  fay  my  Boy  faid  the  Devill 
was  at  his  Howfe.  Upon  Fannings  faying  to  the 
Boy  ye  Devill  was  at  their  Howfe,  and  he  would  have 
me  chid  yc  Boy,  which  I  tould  faid  Fanning  ye  Boy 
might  be  inftrucled  to  know  ye  Devill  was  every  where, 
though  not  at  our  Howfe,  and  mould  not  in  Time  of 
Affliction  upbraid  him  to  our  Griefe." 

Perhaps  Whifkey  may  not  have  been  in  Ufe  in  thofe 
Days,  but  Something  quite  as  electrifying  no  doubt 
had  affected  the  Imagination  of  Fanning.  He  had  a 
Wife  and  feveral  Children.  His  Wife  was  Elizabeth 
Allen,  whom  he  married  24th  of  March,  1668.] 

John  Mighell,1  aged  about  44  Yeares,  teftifieth,  that 
about  ten  Years  fince,  I  wente  to  William  MofTes 
Houfe  to  worke,  by  the  order  of  Jonathan  Mofe,  the 
Sone  of  William  Mors.  I  went  to  hew  Shingell,  and 
at  Night  when  I  was  going  Home  Gooddi  Mors  did 
ueri  much  urge  me  to  ftay  all  Night,  and  help  hir 
Sone  the  next  Day;  in  fomutch  that  I  was  glad  to 
aney  Scufe;  that  I  had  tied  a  young  Mare  up  in  the 
Houfe  and  muft  go  Home  to  water  hir.  Then  fhe 
faid,  be  fure  to  cume  a  gaine  to  Morow.  So  I  went 
Home;  but  came  thair  no  more,  and  fhe  fent  to  me 
fauarall  Times  to  cum  to  Work,  and  at  the  laft  thaire 
was  Word  came  to  me,  that  fhe  was  ueri  angeri  with 
me,  and  fuddenly,  after  thair  was  a  great  Allteration 
in  my  Cattell;  thair  was  one  of  my  Coues  that  had  a 
Calfe  a  bout  a  Fortnit  ould,  and  at  Night  he  was  wet 

1  He  is  not  mentioned  by  Coffin  Brother  of  Samuel,  who  married 

among    the    early    Inhabitants    of  Elizabeth,   Daughter  of  Abraham 

Newbury.     He  may  have  been  a  Tappan  of  Newbury.     The  Name 

Son  of   Thomas  of  Rowley,  and  is  often  found  fpelt  Mihil. 


\BRAft 


268  Appendix. 

when  I  put  him  up,  and  in  the  Morning  I  went  to 
fetch  him  out  to  fuck,  and  the  Haire  and  Skin  was 
gone  of  his  Back;  and  it  was  reed  like  a  Burne,  and 
would  neuer  heale  but  grue  wors  and  worfe.  At  the 
Laft  his  Eyes  came  out  of  his  Head,  and  then  I  thout 
it  was  Time  to  cnok  him  on  the  Head;  and  another 
of  my  Coues  got  a  littel  Pufh  with  an  other  Beaft, 
and  the  Dung  rane  out  of  hir  Side;  and  a  nother  of 
my  Coues  ftud  in  the  Medell  of  the  Yard,  when  I 
went  to  ti  them  up  anight,  and  fhe  courd  not  go  of 
the  Place  wheare  fhe  ftud,  but  I  wafe  glad  to  let  hir 
ftand  in  the  Middel  of  the  Yard  all  Night,  and  my 
Mare  was  dround,  and  thus  my  Creatures  were,  that 
I  had  fcarfe  ani  Creature  tha[t]  was  well;  and  Gooddi 
Mors  being  anggeri  with  me,  and  haueing  bene  talk 
of  for  a  Wich,  I  was  afeard  that  fhe  had  fum  Hand  in 
this. 

'Taken  on  Oath,  Jan.  ytb.  1679,  [by  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge^ 

[To  this  Story  of  John  Mighill,  Mr.  Morfe  fays 
(in  his  Petition):  "About  ye  Lofs  of  his  Catle,  was 
y*  he  came  one  Day  to  Worke  and  [I]  would  have  had 
him  come  another  Day  to  finifh  it,  becaufe  ye  Raine 
came  in  fo  upon  us,  and  his  not  coming,  [he]  judges 
my  Wife  was  angry  and  yrfore  had  fuch  Lofs,  which 
wee  neuer  knew  of.  This  being  twelve  Yeares  agoe 
did  amaze  us  now  to  here  of  it."] 

The  Depofition  of  Robert  Earle,1  aged  45  Yeeres, 
or  thereabouts,  fayth  that  on  Twefday  Night  laft, 
about  to  of  the  Cloke  at  Night  goeing  into  the 
Camber  where  Elizabeth  Morfe  was  fhut  in,  finding 
her  fetting  vpright  in  her  Bed,  fhe  fayed'  to  me  that 

1  He  was  the  Officer  having  -died  in  1698,  if  Savage  is  right,  at 
Mrs.  Morfe  in  Charge.  At  Bofton  the  Age  of  64.  There  is  extant  a 
he  was  Jailor,  or  Prifonkeeper.  He     Genealogy  of  the  Earl  Family. 


Appendix.  269 

me  was  very  glad  that  I  was  come  in,  for  me  was  in 
great  Troable,  and  that  fhe  thought  me  mould  dye  for 
it  now,  for  they  were  goeing  to  find  out  another  Way 
for  Blafphemye.  And  I  went  neere  her  Bedfide,  and 
I  heard  a  ftrainge  Kind  of  Noyfe,  which  was  like  a 
Wheelpe  fucking  of  the  Dam,  or,  Kettins  fucking, 
which  made  me  to  thinke  whether  any  of  the  Catts 
had  layd  any  of  there  Kittins  vpon  the  Syde  of  the 
Bed,  or  wheather  it  might  be  fome  ftrainge  Kind  of 
Hiffing  within  her.  Further,  I  teftifye,  that  Yefter- 
day,  when  I  went  to  fech  her  to  ye  Court,  fhe  fayd  that 
now  they  fay  abroad  I  fhall  dye.  I  afking  of  her  why 
fhe  fayd  foe,  and  whoe  it  was  that  fayd  foe,  fhe  fayd, 
my  Hufband,  and  I.haue  beene  talking  to  geither  of 
it.  And  fhe  fayed  that  I  did  know  what  they  did  fay, 
if  I  would  fpeake,  and  fuch  as  I  that  doe  know  fuch 
Things  fpoke  of  abroad.  Then  I  remembering  there 
was  fome  did  afk  me  what  I  thought  would  be  don 
with  her.  I  fayd  I  did  not  know  but  yl  fhe  might 
dye  for  it,  which  made  me  have  the  more  Sufpition  of 
her  calling  to  mind  wl  I  had  fayd  abroad. 

Ke  further  adds  yl  on  Wednefday  Night  laft  going 
into  the  Roome  where  ye  fd  Elifabeth  Morfe  was  alike 
fetting  vp  as  before  fd,  heard  the  like  Noyes  tho  not 
fo  loud  and  ys  was  neere  about  the  fame  Time  of 
Night. 

[_The  laft  Paragraph  by  Raw/on.  The  other  in  a  Hand 
much  like  that  of  Addington.~\ 

To  Jofeph  Pyke  Conftable  of  Newbery. 

In  his  Maj,tyes  Name  you  are  requered  to  feaze  on 
the  Perfon  of  Elizabeth  Morfe,  the  Wife  of  Willjam 
Morfe,  and  hir  forthwith  fafely  convey  and  deliuer  hir 
to  the  Keeper  of  the  Prifon  at  Ipfwich,  by  him  fafely 
to  be  kept  till  the  Court  of  Afliftants  on  its  Adjourn- 


270  Appendix. 

ment  to  the  20th  of  May  next  who  will  give  further 
Order:  fhe  being  prefented  and  left  by  the  Grand  Jury 
for  Tryall,  as  to  Witchcraft:  and  hereof  you  are  not 
to  faile.     Dated  in  Bofton:   from  the  6th  of  March, 

1679. 

By  the  Court     Edward  Rawson,  Secrety. 
.  .  .  fent  one  Wrt  of  this  Tenor 
vndrftand  came  not. 

[The  above  all  in  Secretary  Rawfon's  Hand.  Part 
of  the  Minute  in  the  Margin  torn  off.  The  follow- 
ing Indorfement  is  on  the  Back  of  the  above: — ] 

This  Warrant  receiued  in  Bofton  Aprill  Ith,  1680, 
and  the  Perfon  within  fpeffefied  was  deliuered  to  the 
Prifon  Kepar  in  Ipfwich  Aperill  2d:    1680. 

Pr  me  Joseph  Pike1 
Conftable  of  Newbery. 

To  the  Conftable  of  Newery,  Jofeph  Pyke. 

In  his  Majefties  Name  you  are  requered,  feafonably 
to  fumon,  and  alike  Require,  Caleb   Moody,  William 

1  He  was,  according  to  Coffin,  James  Bowdoin.  It  went  through 
Grandfon  of  John  Pike,  who  came  feveral  Editions,  under  the  Hands  of 
to  Newbury  in  1635,  and  on  Sept.  different  Editors,  but  there  is  no 
4th,  1691,  was  killed  by  the  In-  Edition  fo  good  as  the  firft.  Jo- 
dians  at  Haverhill.  The  diftin-  feph,  the  Conftable,  married  Su- 
guifhed  Maj.  Robert  Pike  of  Salif-  fanna  Kingsbury,  29  Jan.,  1662, 
bury  was  Son  of  that  John.  Coffin  and  among  other  Children  had  Jo- 
has  very  culpably  neglected  to  tell  feph,  who  married  Hannah  Smith, 
us  what  Pike  was  the  Anceftor  of  who,  among  other  Children,  had 
Nicholas  Pike  of  Newbury,  who  James,  born  March  lft,  1703. 
compiled  the  moft  extenfive  Ameri-  Thefe  were  the  Parents  of  the  great 
can  Arithmetick  ever  publifhed  in  Mathematician,  who  died  in  1819, 
this  Country,  rivalling  Malcolm  (the  aged  76.  He  was  a  Graduate  of 
Scotch  Author)  himfelf;  a  flout  Harvard  College,  1766,  with  feveral 
Odlavo,    dedicated    to    the    Hon.  others  afterwards  diftinguifhed. 


Appendix \  271 

Chandler,1  John  Glading,2  James  Broune,  Joanna 
Broune,  Benjamin  Richardfon,  Wm.  Card,3  Jofeph 
Bayly,  Zackery  Dauis,  Jonathan  Hajnes,  John  Mihil, 
Jofhua  Richardfon,  Sufanna  Gooduin,  John  Chafe, 
John  Ordeway,  William  Fanning,  Jonathan  Wood- 
man, Benjamin  Lowle,*  Elifabeth  Titcomb,  Peniel 
Tytcome,  Lyddia  Tytcom,  Dauid  Wheeler,  Wm. 
Morfe  wth  John  Styles,  to  make  their  and  euery  of 
their  feuerall  Appearances  before  the  Court  of  Af- 
fiftants  on  their  Adjournment  on  the  twentyeth  Day 
of  this  Inftant,  May,  at  eight  of  the  Clocke  in  the 
Morning,  in  Bofton;  then  and  there  to  give  in  their 
Euidence  againft  Elifabeth  Morfe,  Wife  to  Wm. 
Morfe;  fhe  being  then  to  be  on  hir  Trjall  for  Witch- 
craft, hauing  ben  prefented  and  indicted  by  the  laft 
Grand  Jury  in  March  laft  at  the  Court  of  Affiftants: 
making  your  Returne  to  the  Secretary  at  or  before 
that  Time,  wthout  Fayle,  at  yor  Perrill.  Dated  in 
Bofton  the  4th  Day  of  Inftant,  May,  1680. 

By  the  Court     Edward  Rawson  Seffy. 

\_All  in  the  Hand  of  the  Secretary^ 

Theas  are  to  certefie  the  honored  Court  of  Affift- 
ants fitting  in  Bofton  on  ad  journment,  Maye  20th 
1680:  that  Calleb  Moody,  Wm.  Chandlar,  Jno. 
Gladin,   James    Browne,    Hanah    Browne,    Beniamin 

1  Probably  the  Emigrant,  he  died  the  Inhabitants  of  Newbury,  and 
March  5  th,  1701,  in  his  85  th  Year.  Savage  knows  no  more.  Francis 
He  was  thrice  married,  and  the  Card  the  Indian  Captive  may  have 
Father  of   many    Children.  —  See  been  of  the  fame  Family. 

Coffin. 

4  The   Name   was   changed    to 

2  John  Gladding  married  Eliza-  Lowell.  The  Brothers  John  and 
beth  Rogers,  July  17th,  1666.  Richard  Lowle  came  from  Briftol, 

England,  and  fettled  in  Newbury, 

3  Not  found  in  Coffin's  Lift  of     1639. 


272  Appendix. 

Richardfon,  Will.  Card,  Jofeph  Bayle,  Zachariah 
Dauis,  Jonathan  Haynes,  Jn°.  Mighell,  Jofhua  Rich- 
ardfon, Sufana  Goodwin,  John  Chafe,  An  Ordway, 
Will  Fanning,  Johnathan  Woodman,  Beniamen  Lowle, 
Elifabeth  Titcomb,  Penuell  Titcomb,  Liddea  Tit- 
comb,  Daued  Wheelar,  Wm.  Morfe  with  Jng.  Stiles, 
wear  all  fumoned  to  appear  att  ye  fd  honoured  Court 
of  Afliftants  on  ye  20th  of  Inftant,  May,  att  eight  of 
the  Clock  in  ye  Morning,  according  to  this  Warrant, 
dat:    17th  May,  1680.      Byrne 

of  Newbery.  Joseph  Pike,  Conjiable. 

For  ye  Secretary. 

\jTbe  above  Return  is  on  the  Back  of  the  Secretary  s 
Warrant^ 

To  the  Conftable  of  Charleftoune. 

In  his  Maj,tys  Name  you  are  hereby  requered  to 
affemble  the  Freemen  of  yor  Toune  together,  and  fig- 
nify  to  them  that  they  are  alike  required  to  choofe  and 
fend  two  able  and  difcreet  Perfons  to  ferve  on  a  Jury 
of  Trjall  at  the  Court  of  Afliftants  in  Bofton  on  ad- 
journment 20th  Inftant  at  eight  of  the  Clocke  in  the 
Morning  of  a  capitall  OfFendo1,  making  yor  Returne 
hereof  to  the  Secretary  at  or  before  the  Time:  hereof 
not  to  faile.  Dated  in  Bofton  13  of  fajd  May,  1660. 
By  the  Court     Edward  Rawson,  Secret. 

[All  in  the  Secretary's  Hand.~\ 

[Endorfement.] 

At  a  legall  meeting  of  Fremen  of  Charleftown,  ther 
is  chofen  Mr.  Nathan  Heyman,  and  Mr.  John  Knite 
to  ferue  on  the  Jury  acording  to  Warent:    Pr 

by  mee  Joseph  Ryall1  Conftabel. 

1  Savage  has  confounded  the  Ry-  think.  If  it  Aid  that  way  after  the 
alls  with  the  Royals.  The  Name  Time  of  Jofeph  Ryall,  it  is  no  Ex- 
of  this  Family  was  never  Royal  we     cufe  for  making  a  Royalzfl  of  bim. 


Appendix.  273 

To  the  Conftable  of  Bofton  : — 

In  his  Maj'tyes  Name  yow  are  required  forthwith  to 
aflemble  the  Freemen  of  your  Toune  together  and  iig- 
nify  to  them  that  they  are  hereby  alike  required  to 
choofe  and  fend  fiue  able  and  defcreet  Perfons  to  the 
Court  of  Afliftants  on  their  Adjournment  on  the  20th 
of  this  Inftant  May,  at  eight  of  the  Clock  in  the 
Morning  to  ferue  on  a  Jury  for  the  Trjall  of  a  capital 
Offendor:  making  yr  Returne  to  the  Secretary  at  or 
before  that  Time.  Dated  in  Bofton  the  13th  Inftant, 
May,  1680.     Hereof  not  to  faile. 

By  the  Court.     Edward  Rawson,  Secrety. 

\_Endorfed.~\ 

Bofton  this  18th  of  May,  1680.  Then  ware  the 
free  Men  of  this  Town  aflembled,  in  obedians  to 
yowr  Warrant,  and  did  accordingly  chufe  Mr.  Rich- 
ard Middlecott,  Mr.  Jeremiah  Cuftiin,  Mr.  John  Wait, 
Leftenant  Richard  Waye,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Harrod, 
for  to  ferue  as  Jurimen.  Thay  are  alfo  warned  for  to 
attend  ye  Servis  upon  the  20th  of  May  at  eight  of  ye 
Clock  in  ye  Morning. 

By  me  Bozoun  Allen, 

Conftable  of  Bofton. 

To  the  Conftable  of  Watertoune. 

In  his  Maj,tyes  Name  you  are  required  to  aflemble 
the  Freemen  of  ye  Toune  together  and  fignify  to  them 
that  they  are  alike  required  to  chufe  and  fend  two  able 
and  difcreete  Perfons  to  Bofton  on  the  20th  of  this 
Inftant  May,  at  eight  of  the  Clock  in  the  Morning 
to  ferue  on  a  Jury  of  Triall  at  the  Court  of  Afliftants 
on  their  Adjornment  of  a  capitall  Offender :  making 
ye  Returne  hereof  to  the  Secretary  at  or  before  that 
Time:  hereof  yow  are  not  to  faile.  Dated  in  Bofton, 
13th  of  fajd  May,  1680. 

By  ye  Court.     Edward  Rawson,  Secrety. 

Kk 


274  Appendix. 

[Endorfementy  or  Return.'] 

The  Freemen  haue  chofen  John  Stone  and  Rechard 
Child  to  farue  upon  the  Ieury  of  Trials. 

By  me.  John  Mose,  Conftable. 

17  :  3  :    1680. 

To  the  Conftable  of  Cambridge. 

In  his  Majtjes  Name  yow  are  hereby  required  forth- 
with to  aflemble  the  Freemen  of  yor  Toune  together 
and  fignifie  to  them  that  they  are  alike  required  to 
choofe  and  fend  two  able  and  defcreet  Perfons  to 
Bofton,  then  and  there,  on  the  20th  Inftant,  May,  at 
eight  of  the  Clocke  in  the  Morning  to  ferve  on  a  Jury 
at  the  Trjall  of  a  capitall  Offendor :  making  your 
Returne  to  the  Secretary  at  or  before  that  Time : 
hereof  yow  are  not  to  faile.  Dated  in  Bofton,  the 
13th  of  faid  May,  1680. 

By  the  Court.     Edward  Rawson,  Secret. 

[The  Return  thereon^] 

Bro.  John  Green  of  Cambridge,  and  Richard  Rob- 
ins are  chofen  to  ferue  one  the  Jury  of  Trialls,  ac- 
cording to  the  Warrant. 

By  the  Cunftabell,  Jonas  Clarke. 

One  May  the  20,  1680. 

To  the  Conftable  of  Dorchefter. 

In  his  Majties  Name  you  are  required  forthwith  to 
aflemble  the  Freemen  of  faid  Toune  together  and  fig- 
nify  to  them  that  they  are  alike  required  to  choofe  and 
fend  two  able  and  difcreete  Perfons  to  ferue  on  a  Jury 
of  Trialls  in  Bofton  at  the  Court  of  Afliftants  on  their 
Adjournment,  20  Inftant  at  eight  of  the  Clocke  in 
the  Morning  for  the  Triall  of  a  capital  Offendor: 
making  yor  Returne  to  the  Secretary  at  or  before  that 


Appendix.  275 

Time:   heereof  yow  are  not  to  faile.     Dated  in  Bofton, 
13th  fajd  May,  1680. 

By  the  Court,  Edward  Rawson,  Secrety. 

\jTbe  Return: — ] 

Dor  Chefter,  17:  3:  80.  The  free  Men  of  the 
Tovne  wear  a  fembled,  and  mad  Choys  of  Jacob 
Hven  and  John  Capen  for  this  Cort  for  the  Jvri  of 
Trial. 

As  a  teft     James  Foster,  Conft. 

The  Teftimony  of  Efther  Willfon1  aged  about  28. 

That  me  living  with  her  Mother,  Goodwife  Chand- 
ler when  me  was  ill,  me  would  often  cry  out  and  com- 
plaine  that  G.  Morfe  was  a  Witch,  and  had  bewitched 
her,  and  euery  Time  (he  came  to  fee  her  me  was  the 
Worfe  for  her.  Though  too  meete  were  often  for- 
bidden, yett  thay  would  not  refraine  coming.  One 
coming  to  the  Houfe  afked  why  we  did  not  nayle  a 
Horfefhoe  on  the  Threfhold,  (for  that  was  an  Experi- 
ment to  try  Witches.)  My  Mother  the  next  Morn- 
ing, with  her  StafFe  made  a  Shift  to  gett  to  the  Doore, 
and  nayled  on  a  Horfemooe,  as  well  as  me  could.  G. 
Morfe,  while  the   Horfefhoe  was  on,  would  neuer  be 

1  Coffin    finds    no    Willfons    at  was  'probably  corroborative  of  the 

Newbury    at   this    Time.      Efther  other.     Morfe  fays :  "  As  for  Wil- 

probably  belonged  to  a  neighboring  liam  Chandler's  Teftimony  aboute 

Town.      It  is  inferred   that  Wm.  his  Wife's  long  Sicknefs,   and  my 

Chandler's    firft    Wife    was    Mary  Wifes  viliting  hir,  fhe  through  hir 

Wilfon  or  Willfon,  who  died,  ac-  Weaknefs  acled  uncivilly,  and  y* 

cording  to  Coffin,  in  1 666.   Hence  now  to  bring  it  againft  my  Wif, 

Efther's   Depofition   relates   to   an  when,  for  fo  many  Yeares  being  in 

Affair    of  at  leaft  fourteen  Years'  full  Communion  with  us  [&]  never 

Standing.     Morfe  (in  his  Petition)  dealt  with  us  aboute  any  fuch  Thing, 

refers  to   a   Teftimony   given   by  but  had  as  loving  Converfe  with 

Wm.  Chandler,  but  does  not  men-  him  as  Chriftians  ought,  and  knew 

tion  this  of  Efther  Willfon.     One  no  otherwife  till  now." 


276  Appendix. 

perfwaded  to  come  into  the  Houfe;  and  though  fhe 
were  perfwaded  by  the  Deponent,  and  Daniel  Rolfe, 
to  goe  in,  fhe  would  not;  and  being  demanded  the 
Reafon  fhe  would  not  tell  me  now,  and  fayd  it  was  not 
her  Mind  to  come  in  ;  but  fhe  would  kneele  downe 
by  the  Doore  and  talke  and  difcourfe,  but  not  goe  in, 
though  fhe  would  come  often  Times  in  a  Day,  yett 
that  was  her  practife.  Wm.  Moody  coming  to  the  the 
Houfe,  and  vnderftanding  that  there  was  a  Horfefhoe 
nailed  on  the  Doore,  fayd  a  Piece  of  Witchery,  and 
knockt  it  off  and  layd  it  by.  Very  fhortly  after,  the 
fame  Day  G.  Morfe  came  in,  and  thruft  into  the 
Palovr  where  my  Mother  lay  before  fhe  was  vp;  and 
my  Mother  complained  of  her,  and  I  earneflly  defired 
her  that  fhe  would  be  gon,  and  I  could  very  hardly 
with  my  Importunity  intreat  her  to  do  it.  The 
Horfefhooe  was  off  about  a  Weeke  and  fhe  would 
very  often  come  in  that  Time.  About  a  Weeke  after, 
my  Mother,  to  keep  her  out  of  the  Houfe,  gott 
Daniel  Rolfe  to  naile  on  the  Shooe  againe,  wch  con- 
tinued fo  about  7  or  8  Dayes,  and  at  that  Time  fhe 
would  not  come  ouer  the  Threfhold  to  come  in, 
though  often  importuned  to  do  it.  Then  Wm.  Moody 
coming  againe,  tooke  off  the  Horfefhooe,  and  putt  it 
in  his  Pockett,  and  carryed  it  away:  then  the  fayd 
Goodwife  Morfe  came  as  before,  and  would  goe  in  as 
before.  In  a  fhort  Time  after,  I  being  at  Home  on  a 
Sabbath  Day,  alone  with  my  Mother,  I  had  bin  dreff- 
ing  her  Head,  and  fhe  cryed  out  on  a  Sudden,  G. 
Morfe,  G.  Morfe  is  coming  into  the  Houfe.  I  fayd 
I  could  not  fee  her,  my  Mother  fayd  I  fee  her,  there 
fhe  is.  Then  I  run  to  the  Doore  twice,  but  I  could 
not  fee  her;  but  my  Mother  cryed  out,  that  wicked 
Woman  would  kill  her,  be  the  Death  of  her,  fhe  could 
not  beare  it,  and  fell  into  a  grieuous  Fitt,  and  I  tooke 
her  and  carryed   her  in  and  layd  her  on  a  Bed:  and 


Appendix.  277 

hauing  fo  done  I  went  out  to  fee  if  any  Body  were 
coming  from  Meeting,  and  ther  (though  I  faw  her  not 
before)  me  ruined  in,  and  went  into  the  Parlour  to 
my  Mother,  and  I  ftepping  out  and  feeing  my  Father 
coming  lift  vp  my  Hand  to  him  to  come  and  he  made 
great  Haft,  and  I  called  in  fome  of  the  Neighbours, 
and  fo  my  Mother  continued  a  confiderable  Time  be- 
fore (he  recouered.  In  this  Fitt,  my  Mother's  Mouth 
was  drawne  awry,  and  me  foamed  at  Mouth,  and  I 
wiped  it  of,  but  I  was  very  much  frighted  to  fee  her 
fo  till  the  Neighbours  came  in.  This  is  all  that  at 
prefent  fhe  remembreth. 

Taken  on  Oath,  May  17th,  1680,  before  me 

Jo:  Woodbridge,  CommiJfr. 

Read  in  Court,  20  May,  1680.  E.  Rawfon,  Seer. 

\_All  the  above  in  the  Hand  of  Mr.  Woodbridge^  ex- 
cepting the  laft  Line.'] 

The  Teftimony  of  Elizabeth  Titicomb,  aged  about 
50  Years. 

That  fhee  being  lately  with  Sufanna  Tappin,  aged 
about  74  Years,  the  fd  Tappin  related  to  her,  that  when 
Elizabeth  Mors  was  in  Examination  for  Witchcraft, 
and  fhe  being  fummoned  gaue  in  her  Teftimony 
among  others.  When  (he  went  away  lhe  fayd  Eliza- 
beth Morfe  came  after  her  and  tooke  her  about  the 
Wrift,  as  if  fhe  would  enquire  what  was  the  Euidence 
fhe  gaue  in  ag*  her:  who  anfwered  Nothing  but  what 
you  fpake  your  felfe.  The  fayd  Topan  went  Home, 
and  in  the' Night  fhe  felt  a  cold  Damp  Hand  clafping 
her  about  her  Wrift,  wch  affrighted  her  very  much,  and 
putt  her  into  a  very  great  and  dropping  Sweat:  and 
from  that  Time  fhe  continued  ill,  and  an  itching 
and  pricking  rofe  vpon  her  Body,  wch  afterwards  came 
to  fuch  a  dry  Scurfe,  that  fhe  could  fcrape  it  off  as  it 


278  Appendix. 

were  Scales  from  an  Allewife ;  and  that  Side  wch  me 
was  touched  in  was  moll  out  of  Frame;  and  fhe  is 
fmitten  in  the  lower  Parts  of  her  Body  after  the  fame 
Manner  that  fhe  had  teftifyed  agt  the  fayd  Morfe  what 
fhe  heard  her  fpeake:  and  from  that  Time  fhe  hath 
continued  very  ill,  but  little  from  her  Bed,  and  hath 
not  bin  able  to  goe  abroad  euer  fince  to  the  publike 
Meeting.  Who  alfo  fayth  that  the  very  Night  when 
fhe  being  defined  to  goe  and  enquire  of  the  fayd 
Topan,  what  her  Euidence  was,  fhe  had  a  Beaft 
ftrangely  hanged  in  a  harrow  and  dead. 

Taken  on  Oath,  May  14th,  1680. 

Jo:   Woodbridge,  Commifr. 

Sworn  in  Court  the  20th  May,  1680.     E.  R.  Sec. 

\_All  in  Woodbridge  s  Hand  except  the  laft  Line.~] 

Elizabeth  Titcomb,  formerly  ferioufly  telling  G. 
Morfe  of  the  Report  that  went  of  her  as  touching  her 
Name  for  Witchcraft,  and  endeauouring  to  convince 
her  of  the  WickednefTe  for  it,  fhe  feemed  to  be  much 
affected  with  it,  and  fell  on  weeping,  and  fayd  fhe  was 
as  innocent  as  herfelfe,  or  the  Child  now  unborn,  or 
as  God  in  Heaven. 

Sworn,  E.  R.,  S. 

Lydia  Titcomb,  aged  about  17  Yeares,  teftifyeth, 
that  fhe  heard  the  Difcourfe  betweene  her  Mother  and 
the  fayd  G.  Morfe,  and  the  Words  wch  her  Mother 
hath  exprefTed;  and  alfo,  that  a  little  While  after  fhe 
and  her  Brother  and  Sifter,  going  home  from  the  Pond 
where  they  fetcht  water,  there  flew  fomewhat  out  of 
the  Bufhes,  in  her  opinion  like  an  Owle,  and  it  came 
vp  prefently  to  her,  and  was  turned  into  the  Shape  of 
a  Catt;  and  quickly  after  turned  into  the  Shape  of  a 
Dog  :   fometimes  would  be  all  black,  then  haue  a  white 


Appendix.  279 

Ring  about  the  Neck:  fometimes  would  haue  long 
Eares,  fometimes  fcarce  any  to  be  difcerned;  fome- 
times a  very  long  Taile,  fometimes  a  very  fhort  one, 
fcarce  difcernable,  and  in  fuch  Manner  it  followed  vs 
fome  Time,  as  if  it  would  leap  vpon  our  Backs,  and 
frighted  vs  very  much,  and  accompanyed  vs  till  they 
came  neere  the  Houfe:  and  the  laft  Time  we  faw  it 
we  left  it  playing  about  a  Tree,  and  we  went  in  and 
left  it. 

Taken  on  Oath,  May  14th,  1680,  before  me 

Jo:  Woodbridge,  Commi[fr. 

Sworn  in  Court,  20  May,  1680.     E.  R.,  S. 

Sufan  Topan1  being  examined  about  the  Teftimony 
of  Elizabeth  Titcomb,  before  written,  teftifyeth,  that, 
for  the  Subflance,  it  is  true;  onely,  there  is  a  Mis- 
take that  G.  Morfe  tooke  her  by  the  Wrift,  not  at 
that  Time,  when  me  came  Home  from  that  Meeting, 
when  the  fayd  Morfe  was  examined,  but  on  a  Sabbath 
Day  after,  when  fhe  came  from  the  publike  Meeting, 
wch  fhe  might  eafily  miftake  her:  and  fhe  fayth  that 
the  fayd  Morfe  came  very  haftily  after  her,  as  if  fhe 
runne.  And  fhe  cannot  directly  tell  the  Night  when 
the  cold  Hand  clafped  her  Wrift,  but  it  was  not  the 
Night  that  fhe  came  Home  from  the  Examination. 
In  euery  Thing  elfe  the  Relation  is  exactly  true. 

Taken  on  Oath,  May  17th,  1680,  before  me 

Jo:  Woodbridge,  Con*. 

\_All  in  Mr.   Woodbridge  s  Hand,    except   the   Lines 
figned  E.  R.y  S.] 

1  Probably  Daughter  of  the  firft  Abraham  Toppan.  —  Coffin. 


280  Appendix. 

Thomas  Nolton '  fayth  that  when  he  brought  down 
the  Prifoner,  Elizabeth  Morfe,  from  Ipfwich,  fhe  faid 
fhe  was  accufed  about  Witchcraft,  fhe  faid  me  was  as 
cleare  of  the  Accufation  as  God  in  Heaven. 

Sworn  in  Court  pr  Thomas  Nolton,  May  20,  1680. 

Edwd  Rawson,  Secry. 

[All  in  Raw/on  s  Hand."] 

Thomas  Knolten  further  teftifys,  that  as  I  brought 
Goody  MofTe  downe,  fhe  owned  to  me,  that  fhe  ftroakt 
Goodwife  Ordway  Child  over  the  Head,  when  it  was 
fick,  and  the  Child  dyed. 

Sworn  in  Court,  20th  May,  1680. 

E.  Rawson,  Seer. 

[The  Words,  "and  the  Child  dyed,"  in  the  above 
appear  to  have  been  partially  obliterated  by  the  PafT- 
age  of  the  Finger  on  it  before  the  Ink  was  dry.] 

John  Chafe.  And  as  an  Addition  to  my  former 
Teftimony,  I  teftify  and  fay,  that  y*  very  Day,  to  the 
beft  of  my  Knowledge,  yt  Kaleb  Powell  came  to  take 
my  Teftimony  againft  Goodwife  MofTe  yt  I  was  taken 
with  ye  bloody  Flux,  and  foe  it  held  mee  till  I  came  to 
ye  Court  and  charged  her  with  itt,  yt  at  ye  very  Inftant 
of  Time  itt  left  me,  and  I  have  not  been  troubled 
with  it  fince,  and  that  my  Wife  has  been  forely 
troubled  with  fore  Breafts,  that  fhe  have  loft  them 
both,  and  one  of  them  rotted  away  from  her. 

Sworn  to  in  Court,  20th  May,  1680. 

Edw.  Rawson,  Sec  P. 

1  This   Surname   is    now   more  the  Documents  with  his  Name  in 

commonly  written  Knowlton.     This  them,  it  is  not  certain  whether  he 

Man  was  Jailor  at  Ipfwich,  and  died  fpelt  his  Name  beginning  with  an  N 

there  (according  to   Savage)  April  or  K.     We  find  one  of  the  fame 

3d,   1692.     As  he  did  not  write  Name  at  Fort  MafTachufetts  in  1 746. 


Appendix.  281 

[What  the  "former  Teftimony"  of  John  Chafe 
was  does  not  appear,  as  it  is  not  amongft  our  Witch 
Papers.  But  in  Morfe' s  Petition  of  May  14th,  1681, 
he  thus  anfwers  or  explains  that  Teftimony;  as  "to 
John  Cfiafe  faying  yl  he  faw  my  Wife  in  the  Night 
coming  in  at  a  little  Hole,  and  ye  Like,  when  he  him- 
felfe  hath  faid  he  did  not  know  but  he  was  in  a  dreame, 
and  yt  unto  feveral  Perfons  he  hath  fo  faid,  though 
now  as  he  teftifies,  when  my  Wife  difowns  any  fuch 
Thing."] 

The  Teftimony  of  Mrs.  Jane  Sewall,1  aged  about 
54  Yeares.  Who  fayth  that  fome  Yeares  fince  Wm. 
Morfe  being  at  my  Houfe,  began  of  his  owne  Accord 
to  fay  that  his  Wife  was  accounted  a  Witch,  but  he 
did  wonder  that  (he  fhould  be  both  a  healing  and  a 
deftroying  Witch,  and  gaue  this  Inftance.  Thomas 
Wells,  his  Wife  being  come  to  the  Time  of  her  De- 
livery, was  not  willing  (by  the  Motion  of  his  Sifter  in 
whofe  Houfe  fhe  was)  to  fend  for  Goodwife  Morfe, 
though  fhe  were  the  next  Neighbour,  and  continued  a 
long  Seafon  in  ftrong  Labour  and  could  not  be  de- 
livered; but  when  they  faw  the  Woman  in  fuch  a  Con- 
dition, and  without  any  hopefull  Appearance  of  De- 
livery, determined  to  fend  for  the  fayd  G.  Morfe,  and 
fo  Tho.  Wells  went  to  her  and  defired  her  to  come; 
who,  at  firft,  made  a  Difficulty  of  it,  as  being  unwill- 
ing, not  being  fent  for  fooner.  Tho.  Wells  fayd  he 
would  have  come  fooner,  but  [his  Wife's]  Sifter  would 
not  let  him;  fo  at  laft  fhe  went,  and  quickly  after  her 
coming  the  Woman  was  delivered.  This,  as  fhe  re- 
membreth,  was  the  Subftance  [of  the]  Difcourfe, 
though  fhe  doth  not  remember  his  very  Words:  and 
fhe  fuppofeth,    [that]   Thomas  Wells   and  his  Wife 

1  Mrs.  Sewall  was  Daughter  of  Stephen  Dummer  of  Newbury. 

Ll 


282  Appendix. 

living  both  at  Bofton   can  giue  more  full  Testimony 
concerning  this  Thing. 

Taken  on  Oath,  May  18th,  1680.     Before  me, 

Jo:   Woodbridge,  Comfr. 
Read  in  Court,  20  May,  1680. 

E.  Rawson,  Secrety. 

Elizabeth  Titcombe  faith  as  to  yt  Pt  of  this  Tefti- 
mony  relating  to  ye  fending  for  Elizabeth  Morfe,  fhe 
was  prefent,  and  was  one  of  thofe  fecond  fending  for, 
and  faw  Goody  Morfe  when  fhe  came  there,  and  fee  a 
prefent  fpeedy  deliuery  of  the  Woman. 

Sworn  in  Court  20th  May,  1680. 

E.  Rawson,  Secy. 

[In  Woodbridge  s  Hand,  excepting  the  Parts  figned 
by  Rawfon.~\ 

[On  the  Back  of  the  above  Original  is  this  Endorse- 
ment:    "This  for  the  honoured  Gouernour."] 

The  Teftimony  of  Jno.  March,1  aged  22  Years. 
Teftifieth  tha  bout  6  Years  fince  I  lived  with  Jno. 
Wells,   he  working  then    at    Bofton,    and  with    him 

1  John  was  a  Son  of  Hugh  March  is  called  Colonel  in  all  the  Hiftories. 
the  Emigrant,  and  born  at  Newbury,  He  was  often  upon  Expeditions 
June  10th,  1658.  He  was  after-  againft  the  Indians  ;  had  a  Corn- 
wards  known  as  Major  March.  His  mand  in  Sir  William  PhipPs  dif- 
Wife  was  Jemima  True,  whom  he  aftrous  Canada  Invafion,  but  the 
married  March  1,  1679.  Hugh  Time  of  his  Death  is  not  found, 
emigrated  in  1638,  at  the  Age  of  He  was  living  in  1707,  as  on  the 
20,  as  given  in  the  Lift  of  PafTen-  18  th  of  May  of  that  Year  he  failed 
gers  in  the  Ship  Confidence  of  with  a  large  Armament  of  23  Tranf- 
London.  See  Founders  of  New  ports  and  1000  Men  to  reduce  Port 
England,  58.  Coffin  (Hift.  New-  Royal.  The  Attempt  was  a  failure. 
bury,  309)  does  not  raife  John  Penbailow,  Belknap,  and  Book  of 
above  the  Rank  of  Major,  but  he  the  Indians. 


Appendix.  283 

there.  Hee  fent  me  Home  to  Newbury  about  fome 
Bufines,  and  when  I  came  Home  the  Wife  of  Jno. 
Wels  tolde  mee  that  fhee  did  not  queftion  but  that 
as  I  mould  fee  Something  in  the  Chamber  at  Night 
and  at  Night  I  went  to  Bed  and  Daniell  Greenleafe 
with  mee;  and  after  wee  had  beene  at  Bed  a  little 
While,  and  wee  hearde  agreat  Noife  in  the  Chamber. 
I  looked  up  and  faw  feuerall  Cats  and  Rats  at  Play 
together  in  the  Chamber,  running  one  after  another; 
the  Rats  after  the  Cats,  and  I  was  very  much  amazed 
at  it;  and  a  little  while  after  I  flung  feueral  Things  at 
them  but  could  not  ftrik  them.  The  next  Morning, 
before  wee  came  out  of  the  Chamber  I  heard  Goody 
Mors  and  my  Dame  Wells  a  talking  together  without 
the  Dore  feuerall  Words  they  had  which  was  uery 
loude  and  1  hearde  my  Dame  Wels  call  Goody  Mors 
Wich,  and  feuerall  fuch  Words,  which  I  could  not  tell 
the  Meaning  of,  before  I  came  downe,  and  I  came 
down  my  Dame  Wels  came  in  againe.  She  afked  me 
if  I  faw  fuch  Things  as  are  before  exprefTd.  I  afked 
her  why  fhee  afked  mee?  fhe  told  mee  that  Goody 
Mors  told  her  that  I  had  feene  Cats  and  Rats  that 
Night.  Then  Goody  Wels  told  me  that  fhee  afked 
her  how  fhe  knew  it?  She  told  her  that  fhee  heard 
fo, r  though  neither  I  nor  Daniel  Greenleaf  who 
only  knew  it5  had  not  bin  out  of  the  Chamber  to  tell 
Anybody  of  it,  nor  feene  any  Body  but  onely  ouer- 
heard  them  talking. 

The  fayd  Goodwife  Wells  hath  profeffed  before  me 
feverall  Times,  that  often  going  to  G.  Morfe  her 
Houfe  to  fetch  Water,  fhee  hath  {^xi^,  fome  fmall 
Creatures,  like  Mice  or  Ratts  run  into  the  Houfe 
after  her,  and  runn  under  her  Coats. 

Taken  on  Oath,  May  12th  1680. 

1  From  this  Point  to  the  End  of  of  Woodbridge.  The  previous  Part 
the  Depolition,  is  in  the  Autograph     is  in  a  Hand  not  recognized. 


284  Appendix. 

This  laft,  Daniel  Thurfton,  and  Rich.  Woollworth 
haue  heard  the  fayd  Goodwife  Wells  affirme,  as  they 
teftify. 

Sworn  in  Court  May  20th  1680  for  John  March. 

The  Teftimony  of  John  March  is  thus  fummarily 
difpatched:  —  "He  heard  John  Wells  his  Wife  fay 
jfhe  faw  Imp  o'  God  into  faid  Morfs  Howfe.  She  be- 
ing profecuted  would  not  owne  it,  and  was  adjudged 
to  pay  Damages,  and  now  this  is  brought  in." 

The  Depofisfhon  of  James  Browne,1  aged  about  32 
Years,  teftyfyeth.  yt  about  15  Years  agoe,  I  goein 
from  my  Fathers  to  Mr.  Woodmans  of  an  Arent,  met 
with  Goody  Mofe  and  Gorge  Whelere  was  under 
faille;  Goody  Mofe  afckt  me  what  uefals  it  was?  I 
fayd  Gorge  Whellors.  She  replyed  he  goes  out 
brafely;  but  Words  to  this  Effect,  that  he  fhoud  not 
returne,  for  a  Trick,  me  knewe:  farder  teftyfyeth  that 
I  was  one  Night  at  Salfbery,  and  the  next  Day  was  at 
Goody  Mofes.  She  tould  me  of  feferal  of  my  mift- 
demeners;  among  the  Reft  of  what  I  did  the  Nyght 
before,  and  I  afckt  her  how  fhe  coulld  tell  of  um  ?  fhe 
faide  eferey  Body  fed  it  was  true.  I  replyed  to  her 
efery  Body  fes  you  arr  a  Wich:  fhe  faid  to  me  again, 
our  Safor  Chrift  was  be  lyed  and  foe  is  you  and  I. 
John  Myrch  teftyfyeth  that  he  heard  Goody  Mofe 
owne  before  Mr.  Woudbidg  that  fhe  met  with  James 
Broune  when  Gorge  Whellr  was  gone  out.  Johna- 
than  Haines  teftyphyeth  y1  he  heard  Goody  Mofe 
owne  yt  fhe  did  reproue  James  Browne  for  his  Mefde- 
meners.     Te  Addition  of  James  Broune  and  Jonathan 

1  Coffin  does  not  tell  us  what  married  Hannah  .  His  Pa- 
James  Browne  this  was,  though  he  rentage  is  about  as  eafily  traced  as 
has  feveral  among  his  Newbury  that  of  John  Smith.  See  Savage's 
Lift.     He  is  probably  the  one  who  N.  E.  Gen.  Diet.,  Article  Smith. 


Appendix.  285 

Heynes  with  former  Oaths  was  by  ym  Jworne-  vnto  in 
Court,  20  May,  1680. 

E.  Raws  on,  Secy. 

[The  Part  of  the  above  in  italic  Type  is  in  the  Hand 
of  Secretary  Raw/on.  The  previous  Part  is  in  a  moft 
difficult  Chirography,  and  apparently  by  one  of  rare  Igno- 
rance of  all  Notions  of  Compqfition.  Probably  in  the  Au- 
tograph of  the  Deponent.'] 

[More  Importance  feems  to  have  been  given  to  this 
Teftimony  than  to  any  of  the  other,  judging  from  the 
Length  of  the  Reply  to  it  in  the  Petition:  —  "To 
James  Browne,  yt  one  Day  George  Wheeler  going 
forth,  my  Wife  mould  fay  for  a  Trifle  fhe  knew  he 
mould  not  come  in  againe,  which  my  Wife  knowes  not 
of  it,  nor  doth  fome  of  ye  Owners  ever  remember  fuch 
a  Thing  as  to  judge  or  charge  it  on  hir,  but  now,  but 
now  is  brought  forth  fixteen  Yeares  after  when  his 
Wife  faid  to  Goody  Hale  yt  faid  Browne  was  miftaken. 
Hir  Hufband  did  come  Home  well  that  Voyage;  and 
that  James  Browne  mould  fay  to  Robert  Bedell,  yt 
Powell,  whom  we  fued,  did  put  in  thefe  Words,  and 
not  himfelf  in  the  Teftimony,  and  yt  faid  Browne  did 
oune  to  his  Unkle,  Mr.  Nicholas  Noyes  yt  he  could 
not  fware  to  fuch  a  Teftimony;  and  did  refufe  to  doe 
it  before  Mr.  John  Woodbridge,  and  Mr.  Wood- 
bridge  did  admire  he  had  fworn  to  it.  And  for  his 
feeing  my  Wife  amongft  Troopers.  What  Condition 
he  might  be  in  wee  leave  it  to  Confideration.  Wee 
are  Ignorant  of  fuch  a  Thing  till  now  brought  in  fo 
many  Yeares  agoe  as  he  faith."] 


286  Appendix. 

The  Teftimony  of  Dauid  Wheeler1  of  Newberry, 
aged  fifty  fiue  Yeares  or  there  abouts,  teftifieth  and 
faith,  that  haueinge  liued  next  Neighbour  to  Elizabeth 
Mofs  the  Wife  of  Wm.  Mofs  of  Newberry  aforefd. 
He  tooke  Nottice  of  many  ftrange  Actions  of  her  ye 
faid  Eliz  :  Mofs,  more  then  euer  hee  fawe  in  any  other 
Woman  ;  Part  whereof  I  haue  giuen  in  my  Euedence 
vnder  Oath  before  Mr.  Woodbridge,  concerneing  an 
Heifer  whereunto  I  would  farther  add  that  all  the  Reft 
of  yr  Breed  of  Cattle  haue  gennerally  mifcarrjed  by 
ftrange  Accedents  euer  fince,  till  this  prefent  Time  wch 
is  the  Space  of  fifteene  Yeares  or  thereabouts;  as  alfoe, 
that  yc  fd  Eliz:  Mofs  defired  mee  one  Time  to  doe  a 
fmale  Peece  of  Worke  for  her,  wch  I  neglected  to  doe 
foe  foone  as  ihee  defired ;  and  I  goeinge  many  Dayes 
on  fowleinge,  att  yl  Time,  alwayes  as  to  yc  Gennerality, 
came  Home  wth  loft  Labour,  wch  my  Neighbour 
Moody  tooke  Notice  of  as  well  as  my  felfe,  and  hee 
told  mee  I  would  gett  noe  Ggg{q  vntill  I  had  finifhed 
her  Worke,  wch  accordingly  I  fpeedily  did ;  and  after- 
wards I  had  Succefs  as  I  vfed  to  haue  formerly. 
Moreouer,  feuerall  other  Accedents  haue  befallen  mee 
wch  I  belieue  yt  fhee,  the  faid  Mofs,  through  the  Ma- 
lice and  Enuy  *of  her  Heart  againft  mee  might  bee  ye 
Author  of  by  Witchcraft,  and  farther  faith  not. 

This  Addition  to  his  former  Oath  fworn  to  in  Court 
21  May,  1680. 

E.  Raws  on,  Sec. 

[In  the  Hand  of  Ifaac  Addington,  or  one  fimilar,  except 
the  laft  Paragraph,  which  is  in  Raw/on  s  Hand.~\ 

1  This     Teftimony    of    David  bury  in  1645.      He  married  Sarah 

Wheeler  is  not  noticed  by  Morfe.  Wife,  May   nth,   1650,  by  whom 

According  to  Coffin,  he  was  born  he    had    feveral    Children,    whofe 

in   Salifbury,    England,    in     1625,  Names  and  Dates  of  Birth  may  be 

came  to  Hampton,  thence  to  New-  found  in  the  Hi/},  of  Newbury,  321. 


Appendix.  287 

The  Depoficon  of  Margett  Mirack,  aged  about  $6. 
This  Deponent  teftifieth  yl  about  a  Letter  yt  came 
from  Pufcattaq7,  by  Mr.  Tho :  Wiggens.  Wee  gott 
Mr.  Wiggens  to  reade  ye  Letter,  and  he  went  his  Way; 
and  I  prmifed  to  conceale  yc  Letter  after  it  was  read  to 
my  Hufband  and  myfelfe,  and  wee  both  did  conceale 
it;  neverthelefs,  in  few  Daijes  after  Goode  Mofs  mett 
mee  and  clapt  mee  on  yc  Back,  and  fed,  I  comend  you 
for  fending  fuch  an  Anfwerr  to  ye  Letter.  I  prfently 
afkt  her  wl  Letter  ?  Why,  fd  fhee,  hadft  not  thee  fuch 
a  Letter  from  fuch  a  Man  at  fuch  a  Time,  and  fent 
fuch  and  fuch  an  Anfwerr  at  fuch  a  Time?  I  came 
Home  prfently  and  examined  my  Hufband  about  it. 
My  Hufband  fd  prfently,  What  ?  Is  mee  a  Witch,  or 
a  cunning  Wooman  ?  Wherevppon  we  examined  our 
Family,  and  they  fd  they  knew  Nothing  of  ye  Letter. 
Afterwds  I  mett  wth  Goode  Mofs  and  afkt  her  how 
fhee  came  to  know  it?  and  defired  her  to  tell  mee  any 
one  pfon  y*  tould  her,  and  I  fhould  be  fatisfied.  Shee 
afkt  mee  why  I  was  foe  inquifitiue,  and  told  mee  fhee 
could  not  tell.  My  Hufband  teftifieth  that  I  prfently 
tould  him  ye  fame. 

Sworne  to  in  Court,  21  May,  1680. 

Edw.  Rawson,  Sec, 

["To  Goodwife  Miricke  about  a  Letter.  My 
Wife  telling  her  fomewhat  of  ye  Letter,  which  fhe 
judges  could  not  be  and  my  Wife  hearing  of  it,  there 
was  a  Difcourfe,  &c.  aboute  this  love  Letter,  might 
fpeake  Something  about  it  by  Guefs,  and  not  by  any 
fuch  Way  as  fhe  judged,  and  many  haue  fpoken, 
gefling  at  Things  which  might  be."     Morfes  Petition 

James  Ordwaijes  Bill  of  Coft,  from  Munday  Morn- 
ing to  Thurfday  Night ;  my  Wife  being  fumond  by  yc 


288 


Appendix. 


honnored  Court  to  Bofton,  and  not  being  able  of 
Body  to  goe  nor  ride  of  herfelfe,  I  was  bound  to  af- 
fift  my  Wife  and  bring  her  to  ye  Court,  which  hath 
bin  verry  chargeable  to  mee ;  befides  my  Time  to 
carry  her  Home  againe ;  therfore  I  leaue  it  to  yc 
Iudgement  of  yc  honnored  Court  to  giue  mee  w*  they 
fee  good. 

And  my  Wife,  Attendance  one  day  att  Newbury 
before  Mr.  Woodbridge,  and  refeued  Nothing  but  is 
at  Mr.  Turners  for  my  felf  and  my  Wife.1 

Benia  Lowles2  Bill  of  Coft.  i  Days  coming,  and 
on  Days  Atendans  of  ye  Cort.     2   Days  going  Horn, 


i  James  Ordway's  Wife's  Tefti- 
mony  is  only  to  be  inferred  from 
Morfe's  Petition  :  — "  Hir  Child 
being  long  ill,  my  Wife  coming  in 
and  looking  on  it,  pitting  of  it,  did 
feare  it  would  dy  ;  and  when  it 
dyed  Ifrael  Webfter,  our  next 
Neighbour  heard  not  a  Word  of  it, 
nor  fpoken  of  by  others,  nor  any 
of  y*  Family  but  hir  Conceite,  and 
now  brought  in." 

A  fimilar  Cafe  was  that  of 
"  Widow  Goodwin,"  who  having 
a  fick  Child  "gave  forth  y*  it  was 
bewitched  by  my  Wife,  as  fhe 
thought :  wee  hearing  of  it,  dealt 
with  hir  about  it,  and  fhe  brake 
forth  in  Teares,  craving  Forgiv- 
nefs,  and  faid  it  was  others  put  hir 
upon  it,  to  fay  as  fhe  did,  but  now 
urged  by  Powell  to  fay  as  fhe  now 
faith." —  Morje's  Petition. 

2  The  Lowles  of  Newbury  were 
the  Anceftors  of  the  Lowells  of 
Bofton.  The  Name  was  written 
Lowle  for  feveral  Generations  after 


.the  Emigration,  and  appears  to 
have  been  the  original  Spelling. 
Benjamin  was  Son  of  John  Lowle 
who  came  to  Newbury  in  1639, 
with  his  Brother  Richard.  He 
married  Ruth,  Daughter  of  the  firft 
Edward  Woodman  of  Newbury, 
061.,  1666.  His  Teftimony  againft 
Mrs.  Morfe  has  not  been  preferved, 
but  from  the  Notice  taken  of  it  by 
Morfe  it  was  doubtlefs  as  childifh  as 
any  of  the  Reft.  Mr.  Morfe  re- 
marks :  —  "  To  Benjamin  Lowle 
about  my  Boy's  [John  Stiles]  ketch- 
ing  a  Pidgin  ;  my  Boy  defired  of 
me  to  fee  to  ketch  a  Pidgin  by 
throwing  a  Stone,  or  ye  like,  and  he 
brought  'a  Pidgin,  which  I  affirm 
was  wounded,  though  alive."  All 
we  can  gather  from  this  is,  that  the 
young  Rafcal  Stiles  fuccefsfully 
played  off  one  of  his  Tricks  upon 
Lowle,  in  which  a  Pigeon  was  con- 
cerned, and  which  went  to  fwell 
the  Lift  of  fupernatural  perform- 
ances of  Mrs.  Morfe.  See  ante. 
Pages  14 1-2,  261. 


Appendix. 


289 


on  Day  at  Neuberey :  and  two  and  Threpens  charg 
coming  down.  My  Expences  coming  down.  At  Mr. 
Perkins  fix  Pens:  and  at  Capt.  Martialls,1  fix  Pence: 
and  1  Shilings  8  Pens  of  Mr.  Turnor. 


William  Fannings  Bill  of  Coft. 
For  Attendance   at    Newbury   before   Mr. 

Woodbridge £0—1 — 6 


1  His  given  Name  faid  to  be 
Thomas.  Long  a  noted  Ordinary 
or  Tavern  Keeper.  Whatever 
may  have  been  his  given  Name,  he 
was,  according  to  the  Account  given 
of  him  by  John  Dunton,  an  Officer 
in  the  Parliamentary  Army  in  the 
Time  of  Charles  I,  and  Cromwell. 
Dunton  may  have  exaggerated 
fomewhat  in  his  Notice  of  the  Cap- 
tain, a  Failing  from  which  he  was 
not  entirely  free.  But  with  a  large 
Allowance  for  John's  Propenfity  in 
that  Direction,  enough  is  left  to 
warrant  the  Belief  of  the  main 
Facts  of  his  Statement,  which  I 
extract  entire  from  his  famous  Life 
and  Errors : 

"This  Captain  Marfhal  is  a 
hearty  old  Gentleman,  formerly  one 
of  Oliver's  Souldiers,  upon  which 
he  very  much  values  himfelf :  He 
keeps  an  Inn  upon  the  Road  be- 
tween Bofton  and  Marblehead : 
His  Houfe  was  well  furnifhed,  and 
we  had  very  good  Accommodation. 
I  inquired  of  the  Captain  what 
memorable  Actions  he  had  been  in 
under  Oliver,  and  I  found  I  could  not 
have  pleafed  him  better  ;  he  was 
not  long  in  refolving  me  of  the  Civil 
War  at  his  Finger's  Ends  ;  and  if 
we  may  believe  him,   Oliver  did 

Mm 


hardly  Anything  that  was  confider- 
able  without  his  Affiftance ;  for  his 
good  Service  at  the  fatal  Battel  of 
Nafeby  (which  gave  fuch  a  Turn 
to  the  King's  Affairs,  that  he  could 
never  after  come  to  a  pitched  Bat- 
tel,) he  was  made  a  Captain  ;  from 
thence  he  went  to  Leicefter,  and 
befieged  that,  then  went  to  York, 
and  afterwards  to  Marfton-Moor  ; 
and  in  fhort,  rambled  fo  far  in  his 
Difcourfe,  that  if  I  would  have 
Hayed  as  long  as  he  would  have 
talked,  he  would  have  quite  fpoiled 
my  Ramble  to  Plymouth;  and 
therefore  the  Captain  was  forced  to 
leave  a  great  Part  of  his  noble  Ex- 
ploits unrelated." 

Some  of  our  Cotemporaries,  per- 
haps to  appear  wifer  than  others, 
fuggeft  that  Capt.  Marfhall  may 
have  invented  a  Tale  to  amufe  his 
Guefts.  The  Suggeftion  appears  to 
us  very  weak.  Had  Dunton  been 
an  American,  born  in  New  Eng- 
land, the  Doubt  might  have  fome 
Weight  ;  whereas  Dunton  was  more 
than  an  ordinary  intelligent  Englifh- 
man  juft  from  the  Theatre  of  the 
Civil  War,  who  would  at  once 
have  detected  any  Attempt  at  an 
Abufe  of  that  Sort.  His  Inn  was 
probably  in  the  Town  of  Reading. 


290  Appendix. 

For  two  Daijes  coming £0 — 4 — o 

Attending  at  ye  Court  one  Day    ....     o — 2 — o 
For  two  Daies  going  Home     ..... 


James  BrownesExpenfes  for  himfelf  and  his  Wife: — 

For  hiring  a  Horfe  to  bring  downe  his  Wife  £0 — 5 — o 

Expenfes  at  Rowley,  my  felfe,  my  Wife  and 

my  Horfe o — 1 — o 

Expences  at  Wennham,  myfelfe,  my  Wife 
and  Horfe 

At  Capt.  Marfhalls 

My  Ferridge  at  Wemifett 

P'uiflion    and   Lodging  flnce  we   came   to 

Bofton o — 2 — o 

Ferridge  backe  againe  and  Horfe  Meate  3 

Nights o — 2 — o 

My  felfe  and  my  Wife  fumoned  at  New- 
bury       o — 3 — o 

For  Attendance  vppon  ye  Service  in  toe 
Dayes  comin,  2  I) ayes  Attendin  in  ye  Corte 

toe  Dayes  goin  Horn 1 — 4 — 0 

tfhis  is  for  comin  from  Nubery  to  wittnes  a 
ginft    Goody    Mqfe. 

£1-19 — o 

\frhe  fart  in  italic  Type  is  in  the  Hand  of  the  Witnefs."] 

[Endorfe  {by  Rawfon)~\  Bills  of  Cofts  for  and  againft 
Elis.  Morfe.  Keepr  of  Ipfwich  Bill,  Dauis,  Fanning, 
Knowlton  and  their  Expenfe. 


.     Dauid  Whellors  Bill  of  Coft.     On  Days  Atendans 
at  Neuburey,  and  two  Dayes  coming  down,  and  two 


Appendix.  291 

Days  goeing  Horn,  and  on  Days  Atendans  hear  at 
Bofton :  I  Spent  on  the  Contreys  Acoumpt,  at  Mr. 
Tumors,1   fix  Pens. 


The  Bill  of  Coft  for  Zacaryah  Dauis. 
For  two   Days  attending  before   Mr.  John 

Woodbridg £0 — 2 — 6 

For  two  Days  coming  down 0—4 — o 

For  one  Days  Atendane  att  Bofton    .     .     .     o — 2 — o 
For  two  Dayes  going  Home o — 4 — o 


For  John  Chafe  Bill  of  Coft. 
Two  Dayes  before  Mr.  John  Woodbridge  £0 — 2 — 6 

For  two  Dayes  coming  down o — 4 — o 

For  one  Dayes  atending  att  Bofton        .     .     o — 2 — o 
For  two  Dayes  going  Home o — 4 — o 


Wm.  Chandlers  Bill  of  Coft. 

In  prmis  :   for  Attendance  at  Newbury  be- 
fore Mr.  John  Woodbridge  two  Daijes  £0 — 2 — 6 

For  two  Daijes  coming,  a  Day  Attendance 

at  Bofton o — 6—0 

For  two  Daijes  going  Whome      ....     o — 4 — o 
I  haue  pd  moft  of  my  Expences  by  ye  Way,  in  Mony 

out  of  my  Pockett :   I  am  aged,  and  came  on  Foot, 

wch  is  verry  hard  for  my  aged  Body  to  beare,  therfore 

I   hope  this  honnored  Court  will  confider  me  for  my 

Paines  and  hard  Trauell. 

1  "  Turners M  was  a  popular  Inn  John  Turner  (Father  and  Son)  and 

at  that  Time,  and  was   known  as  by  George  Monck.     It  was  in  what 

the  Blue  Anchor  Tavern.     Within  is  now  Wafhington  Street,  and  on 

a  Space  of  a  few  Years  previous  to  what  is  now  Number  92,  or  on  the 

1681   it  was  kept  by  Robert  and  Lot  next  foutherly  of  it. 


292  Appendix. 

Jofeph  Bayles  Bill  of  Coft.1 
In  prmis.  2  Daijes  before  Mr.  Woodbridge  £0 — 2 — 6 
For  two  Daijes  coming,    1    Day  attending, 

and  2  Daijes  going  Home 0-10 — o 

For  my  Expences  coming,  and  att  Bofton, 

Mony, 

Which  I  hope  ye  honnored  Court  will  confider  of 
that  I  may  haue  thee  Mony  againe  wch  I  haue  layd 
out  of  my  owne  Pockett. 

Bofton,  1680.  This  is  to  certify  that  by  Order  of 
or  Honrd  Gouernour  vnto  Andrew  Neale  for  the  En- 
tertainm1  and  Dyet  of  fix  of  us  that  dwel  at  Nubury, 
as  Teftimonys  agft  Elizabeth  Mofs,  fhe  being  apr- 
hended  vpon  Sufpicion  of  Witch  Craft,  and  being 
upon  the  Countryes  Account,  the  faid  Andrew  Neale 
hath  entertayned  us  with  Dyet  and  Lodging,  from  the 
19th  of  May  to  the  21ft  Day:   our  Names  being 

John  Glading, 

William  Fanin, 

John  Chafe, 

Zachary  Davis, 

Benjamin  Richardfon  and 

William  Card. 
Each  of  us  6  Meals,  is  36  Meales,  and  our  Lodg- 
ing, and  amounts  to  twenty  Shillings  as  Money. 

\_Endorfed  by  Secy.  Raw/on,'] — "Andrew  Neales  Ac- 
count.    A  Warrant." 

1  Whatever  BaylePs  Teftimony  Jofeph  fettled  in  Arundel,  Maine, 

was,   it    does    not  appear  to   have  about   1700;  being  driven  thence 

been  preferved,  and  Morfe  does  not  in    1 703   by  the  Indians,  returned 

notice  it.     According  to  Coffin  this  there  in  17 14.     In  October,  1723, 

Jofeph  Bailey  was  Grandfon  of  the  he  was  killed  by  them,  being  then 

Emigrant  John  Bailey,  who   came  75    Years   old.      He    had    a    large 

from    Chippenham,    in   Wiltfhire,  Family  of  Children,  a  Record  of 

England,  to  New  England  in  1635.  which  is  given  by  Coffin. 


Appendix.  293 

We  only  know  what  John  Glading  fwore  to  by  the 
Anfwer  of  Mr.  Morfe  in  his  Petition:  —  "To  John 
Glading  yl  faw  Halfe  of  my  Wife,  about  two  a  Clocke 
in  the  Daye  Time;  if  fo,  might  [not  he]  then  have 
fpoken,  and  not  referved  for  fo  long  a  Time;  which 
fhe  utterly  denies  it,  nor  know  of  any  fuch  Thing, 
where  fhe  mould  be  at  y*  Time  as  to  clere  her  felf." 
Although  a  Dweller  at  Nubury,  and  mentioned  by 
Coffin  among  the  WitnefTes,  his  Name  is  not  found 
in  the  Lift  of  the  Inhabitants  by  that  Author. 

Zachary  Davif  s  Teftimony  is  given  in  Coffin's 
Newbury.  It  amounts  to  this.  When  faid  Davis 
lived  at  Sali(bury,  he  promifed  from  Time  to  Time 
to  bring  cca  fmall  Paflell  of  Winges"  to  Mrs.  Morfe. 
He  came  over  three  or  four  Times  without  bringing 
the  Wings,  through  .  Forgetful nefs;  and  was  yet  re- 
minded of  his  Promife  by  Mrs.  Morfe  every  Time. 
"Soe  fhe  tel  me  fhe  wonder  my  Memory  fhould  be 
foe  bad;  but  when  I  came  Home  I  went  to  the  Barne, 
and  there  was  three  Cafes  in  a  Pen.  One  of  them  fell 
a  danceing  and  roreing,  and  was  in  fuch  a  Condition 
as  I  neuer  faw  on  Cafe  in  before.  But  [it]  being 
almoft  Night  the  Cattle  came  Home  and  we  put  him 
to  his  Dam  and  he  fucke  and  was  well  three  or  four 
Dayes.  On  of  them  was  my  Brothers.  Then  [he] 
came  over  to  Nubery,  but  we  did  not  think  to  fend 
the  Winges.  When  he  came  Home  I  went  to  the 
Barne,  this  Cafe  fel  a  danceing  and  roreing.  So  wee 
put  him  to  the  Cowe,  but  he  would  not  fucke,  but 
rane  a  roreing  away,  foe  wee  gate  him  againe  with 
much  Adoe,  and  put  him  into  the  Barne;  and  we 
heard  him  roer  feuerall  Times  in  the  Night;  and  in 
the  Morning  I  went  to  the  Barne,  and  there  he  was 
feting  upon  his  Taile  like  a  Doge,  and  I  neuer  fee  no 
Cafe  fet  after  that  Manner  before ;  and  fo  he  remained 
in  thefe  Fits  while  he  died." 


2g4  Appendix. 

Morfe's  Explanation  is  quite  fatisfactory  and  to  the 
Point: — "To  Zachariah  Davis.  Tocenfure  my  Wife 
now  for  not  bringing  Quills  about  16  Years  agoe;  yl  his 
Lofs  of  Calfes  was  for  that,  when  his  Father  being  in 
Communion  with  us,  did  profefs  it  to  us,  yt,  he 
judged  it  a  Hand  of  God,  and  was  farr  from  blaming 
us,  but  rather  troubled  [that]  his  Sonn  mould  fo 
judge." 


Beniamanrichifin  Bill  of  Coft. 
For    Attendance   at    Neubry,    before    Mr. 

Woodbridge, £o — 2 — 6 

For  too  Dayes  coming o — 4 — o 

Attending  at  ye  Court  one  Day    ....     0—2 — o 
For  two  Daies  goin  Home      .    •.     .     .     .     o — 4 — o 


Caleb  Moodys  Bill  of  Coft  for  atending  at 
Nubery,  my  felf  and  Mrs.  Gordinge,  2 
Dayfe  before  Mr.  Wodbridge,       .     .     .  £0 — 3 — o 

For  Hofs  Hier  in  Monye o — 5 — o 

Expenfes  at  Rowly  for  Mrs.  Gording 

My  felf  and  Horfe o — i- 

At  Wenhome 

At  Capt.  Morfhels 

Ferige  at  Winafimet o — 0—6 

For  Expenfes  at  Boftone  3  Nits  ....  o — 3 — o 
For  Time  coming  dovne,  atending  and  go- 
ing Home,  5  Dayfe 1 — o — o 

For  my  Hors  at  Winefemet o — 1 — 6 

For  Expenfes  to  carye  ufe  Whome    .     .     .  o — 2 — o 

£0-17 — o 


Appendix.  295 

The  Bill  of  Coft  of  Peniwell  Titcumbs  Euedens1 
againft  Elizebeth  Morfe. 
For  atending  at  Nubery  before  Mr.  Wod- 

bridge,    1    Daye £0 — 1 — 6 

For  2  Dayfe  coming  doune o — 4 — o 

For  1  Daye  tending  the  Cort o — 2 — o 

For  2   Days  to  goe  Home 0—4 — o 

Refeued  of  the  Contrys  Acovnt 
At  Quarter  M after  Perkenfes     .   £0 — o — 6 
At  Capt.   Marfhals      ....     o — o — 6 
Expenfes  at  Mr.  Lor  ens?    .     .     .     o — 2 — 8 


The  Bill  of  Coft  of  John  Mortch,  Witnefs  againft 

Elizebth  Morfe:  — 

On    Daye    at    Nubery    befor    Mr.    Wod- 

bredge £0 — 1 — 6 

For  fiue  Dayfe  coming  doune  and  atend- 
ing one  to  goe  Home 0-10 — o 

21st  3mo  1680. 


The  Bill  of  John  Glading. 

A   Day  for  atending  before   Mr.   Wood- 
bridge        

For  to  Days  couming  downe 

A  Day  at  Bofton .     .     , 

To  Days  to  goe  Whom 


Jofhua  Richardfon  Bill  of  Coft. 
For  Attendance  at  Home  before  Mr.  Jno. 

Woodbridge  to  Dayes £0 — 2 — 6 

1  As    no    feparate    Evidence   is     Doubt  for  that  of  his  Mother  and 
found  of  Penuel  Titcomb,  it  was  no     Sifter  that  thefe  Charges  were  made. 


296  Appendix, 

For   2    Daijes  coming,  a  Day  attending  ye 

Court,  and  2  Daijes  going 0-10 — o 

For    Expences   vppon    ye    Rode    and    my 

Ferridge o — 2-10 

All  that  I /pent  on  ye  County s  a  Count  as  I  cam  doun  wos 
fix  Pens,  at  quar  Mr  Pirkins.    At  Capt.  Majfhalsfix  Pens. 

[The  part   in   Italics  in    the  Hand  of  the    Witnejs, 
probablyJ] 

William  Card  Bill  of  Coft. 
For    Attendance   at    Nebury,    before    Mr. 

Woodbridge £0 — 2 — 6 

For  two  Dayes  comming o — 4 — o 

Attending  at  ye  Court  one  Day    ....     o — 2 — o 
For  two   Daies  goin  Home o — 4 — o 

[No  Intimation  of  what  William  Card's  Teftimony 
was  is  found.] 

Thus  is  concluded  all  the  Documents  concerning 
the  Trial  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Morfe  in  the  Editor's 
PofTeffion;  mowing  the  Origin  of  the  lamentable 
Affair  from  its  Commencement  to  the  Bills  of  Cofts 
of  the  WitnefTes.  To  characterize  the  Proceedings, 
further  than  has  been  done  in  the  Progrefs  of  printing 
the  Documents  occafioned  by  them,  would  be  a  fuper- 
fluous  Labor,  and  they  are  therefore  fubmitted  with- 
out further  Remark. 

FINIS. 


Errata. — Page  65,  Note,   make    1661,    1651.     Page  95,  line  12, 
for  Godwin,  read  Godman. 


I  N  DEX. 


Names  are  fpelt  according  to  their  prefent  Manner,  generally,  in  this  Index.  To 
have  followed  that  of  the  Documents  ufed  in  the  Work  would  have  much  increafed 
it,  as  the  Names  of  the  fame  Perfon  are  often  fpelt  feveral  Ways ;  often  beginning 
with  a  different  Letter. 


ADAMS,  N.,  Annals  of  Portf- 
*^     mouth,  1 06. 
Addifon,  Jofeph,  xxviii. 
Addington,  Ifaac,  148,  286. 
Age  of  Reafon,  alas  for  the,  xlviii. 
Albany,  Witchcraft  in,  208. 
Allen,  Bouzoun,  Conftable,  273. 
Andover,   Witchcraft  in,  87,  113, 

206. 
Antagonifm,    a     Warfare    between 

Reafon   and  Superftition,  xviii ; 

what  it  is,  xix. 
Apparitions,  xxiv,  xlii,  132. 
Aquendero,  Indian  Chief,  208. 
Amcom,  Charles,  172. 
Afhley,    Mary,     234,    239,    242; 

Robert,  ib. 
Afhwood,  John,  Captain,  89. 
Atheifts,  Unbelievers  in  Witchcraft, 

xxix. 
Atherton,  Humphrey,  98. 
Atwater,   Mrs.,  89,  90,  95  ;   Mr. 

David,  92. 

gACK-BAY,  Bolton  Churches 
in,  xiv. 

Bacon,  Francis,  believed  in  Witch- 
craft, xxviii. 

Bacon,  Leonard,  Difcourfes  of, 
xxxii. 


N 


Bailey,  Jofeph,  271-2  ;  Family  of, 

292. 
Baldwin,  Goodwife,  82. 
Ballard,  Jofeph,  206. 
Banks,  John,  an  early  Lawyer,  78. 
Bard  of  Lynn  (Lewis)  xliii-vi. 
Barlow,  Goodwife,  83. 
Bartholomew,  William,  75. 
Bartlett,  Jofeph,  139;  Mary,  134; 

Samuel,  140. 
Barton,     Bernard,     Extract     from, 

xxiii ;    Eliza,    106;     Elizabeth, 

BafTet,  Goodwife,  Trial   of,  73-4, 

85. 
Baxter,    Richard,    on    Witchcraft, 

xi,  xii. 
Beale,  William,  bewitched,  205. 
Beaman,  Robert,  174  ;  Simon,  220, 

254-5. 
Bedell,  Robert,  285. 
Bellamont,    Richard,    (Earl)    208- 

10. 
Bellingham,  Richard,  98,  107. 
Bentley,    William,  on   Witchcraft, 

98. 

Benton,  Andrew,  123;  G.,  ib. 
BefTe,    Jofeph,    Sufferings    of  the 

Quakers,  107,  119. 
Bible,  Witches  explained  out  of,  xl. 

n 


298 


Index. 


Bifhop,     Bridget,     executed,     191 ; 

George,   107,    108,  119;  Mrs., 

89. 
Blacke,  John,  Juror,  139. 
Blackftone,  William  (Sir),  xxviii. 
Blue  Anchor  Tavern,  Bolton,  291. 
Bodorthe,    Blanche,    224-7,    239  ; 

Rice,  220. 
Body  of  Liberties,  56. 
Booth,  Elizabeth,  1 89,  204  ;  James, 

51- 
Bofton,  Churches  in   a   Quagmire, 

xiv  ;  Witchcraft  in,  58-61,  98, 

107,   180-5;  bloody  Town  of, 

\\g  ;,  an  Army  of  Devils  in,  61. 

Boutle,  Henry,  a  Witnefs,  93. 

Bradbury,  Judith,  263. 

Bradfhaw,  Sarah,  125. 

Bradftreet,  John,  a  Magician,  74-5. 

Bradftreet,  Simon,  87,  98,  1 13-14, 
140,  145,  147,  170. 

Branch,  William,  254,  256-7. 

Brafbridge,  Rachel,  155. 

Brewfter,  Eliz.,  80  ;  Mary,  81,  85, 

95- 

Bridges,  Robert,  of  Bofton,  98. 

Bridgman,  Goodman,  254. 

Brinley,  John,  on  Witchcraft,  xv. 

Brooks,  William,  a  Witnefs,  253. 

Broughton,  Brian  (Sir),  xv. 

Browne,  William,  Affiftant,  145  ; 
James,  271,  284-5,  290. 

Brundifh,  Bethia,  a  Witnefs,  83. 

Bryan,  Alexr.,  a  Lawyer,  78. 

Buckley,  Gerfhom,  86;  Peter,  145. 

Buff (Barefoote  W.?),  153. 

Burnham,  Thomas,  a  Witnefs,  223. 

Burnings  for  Witchcraft,  124-5, 
215. 

Burroughs,  B.,  210  ;  George,  ex- 
ecuted, 191. 

Burt,  Abigail,  224  ;  Jonathan, 
237-8. 

Burton,  Robert,  on  Witchcraft, 
xxviii. 


Butler,  S.,  References  to  and  Ex- 
tracts from  his  Hudibras,  xxxvii, 
68,  123-4,  J6o- 

pABEL,  Sarah,  83. 

^     Calef,  Robert,  xv,   181. 

Capen,  John,  Juror,  145,  275. 

Card,  William,  271,  292,  296. 

Carrier,  Martha,  executed,  192. 

Carrington,  John,  233. 

Cafe,  Thomas,  bewitches  Quakers, 

.58. 

Chandler,      William,     271,     275, 

291. 
Chapman,  Henry,  210-11. 
Charles  Seccnd,  xxxi. 
Chafe,  John,  271-2,  280-1,  291-2. 
Chauncy,    C,    his    Enthufiafticus, 

159. 
Child,  Richard,  Juror,  145,  274. 
Chriftefon,  Wenlock,  119. 
Churchill,  Sarah,  in  a  Witch  Cir- 
cle,  189. 
Clarke,     John,     Conftable,     274; 

William,  Juror,  169. 
Claufen,  Elizabeth,  immerfed,  187. 
Clinton,  Lawrence,   200  ;  Rachel, 

ib. 
Cloyfe,  Sarah,  194. 
Coffin,  J.,  cited,   143,  145,  148-9. 
Cole,  Ann,  120-2  ;  Eunice,  100-3; 

William,  100. 
Collins,  Zacheus,  of  Lynn,  205. 
Colman,  Thomas,  molefted,  102. 
Colton,   George,   a  Witnefs,   229, 

236-9. 
Colve,  Anthony,  Captain,  134. 
Cooke,  Aaron,  a  Juror,  169. 
Coolin,  Annakey,  172. 
Cooly,   Benj  ,  a  Witnefs,  238-41, 

254  ;  Mrs.,  257. 
Cooper,     Thomas,     222-3,     244  ; 

Goodman,  252. 
Cornifh,  John,  210-11. 
Corwin,  Jonathan  (Judge),  190. 


Index. 


299 


Cory,     Giles,    preffed    to    Death, 

192-4  ;  Martha,  hanged,  194. 
Cotton,  John,  Laws  of,  97. 
Coulter,  Good  wife,  152. 
Coutch,  Robert,  107. 
Cranch,  Andrew,  John,  &c,    151. 
Cudworth,  Ralph,  a  Believer,  xxviii. 
Cullender,  Rofe,  executed,  124. 
Cullick,  John,  63. 
Cufhin,  Jeremiah,  Juror,  145,  273.' 

T}  ALTON,  SAMUEL,  Coun- 
cillor,   151-2. 

Dane,  Francis,  1 15-16  ;  John,  ib. ; 
Nathan,  1 15. 

Danforth,  Mrs.,  a  Witch,  lii  ; 
Thomas,  145,  170. 

Daften,  Goodwife,  accufed,  205. 

Davenport,  John,  yy,  78,  89. 

Davis,  Zacheriah,  271-2,  291-2. 

Davy,  Humphrey,  Councillor,  145. 

Day,  Phebe,  200  ;  Timothy,  ib. 

Dean,  John  Ward,  cited,  115. 

Deane,  S.,  Hill.  Scituate,  117. 

Decanniflbra,  Onondaga  Chief,  209. 

Defoe,  Daniel,  cited,  xxvi,   180. 

Demagogue,  a  contemptible  one, 
xxv. 

Demoniacs,  tortured  by  the  Devil, 
xli. 

Denham,  Elizabeth,  a  Witnefs,  151. 

Denifon,  Daniel,  98,  136,  145. 

Derbond,  Henry,  Juror,  151. 

Defborough,  Mercy,  tried,  186  ; 
Nicholas,  molefted,  166;  Thom- 
as, 186. 

Devil,  may  do  Mifchief  without  a 
Witch  or  Wizard,  xvi ;  Origin 
of  the,  xxi ;  caufes  Earthquakes, 
Thunder  and  Lightning,  &c, 
xxii ;  his  Agency  overlooked  by 
Writers,  xxxii  ;  explained  out  of 
the  New  Teftament,  xxxvi,  xl  ; 
appears  to  M.  Luther,  xxxvii  ; 
tortures  Demoniacs,  xli  ;  Leagues 


with,  limited,  li ;  Converfe  with, 
forbid  by  Law,  56 ;  an  Army  of 
Devils  in  Bofton,  61  ;  he  per-  w 
forms  menial  Service  for  a 
Woman,  62  ;  fcares  Hogs,  63  ; 
appears  at  Springfield,  67  ;  one 
fined  and  whipt  for  having  Fa- 
miliarity with,  74  ;  among  the 
Women  at  New  Haven,  75 ; 
hovering  in  the  Air,  88  ;  Sub- 
jects for,  ib.  ;  of  the  Indians, 
90;  at  Hampton,  100  ;  an  At- 
tempt to  cheat  him,  108  ;  in  C. 
Southwick,  109;  makes  a  Wo- 
man fpeak  Dutch,  120;  Hudi- 
bras  on,  123;  gives  a  Woman 
ten  Shillings,  for  which  fhe  is 
burnt  to  Death,  1 24  ;  at  Groton, 
131-2;  Blafphemes,  132;  In- 
dians forbid  to  worfhip,  1 37  ;  at 
Newbury,  143;  mitigates  Argu- 
ments, 148;  Contracts  with  a 
Hampton  Man,  156;  fadly 
fwindled,  157  ;  vifits  Plymouth, 
158;  bites  a  Woman,  160-1 ; 
throws  down  Log  Fence,  162; 
throws  Stones,  163  ;  fteals  Axes, 
164  ;  at  Hartford  throwing 
Stones  and  Corn  Cobs,  166  ;  on 
the  Side  of  Juftice,  167  ;  in 
Mary  Webfler,  168  ;  triumphs 
with  C.  Mather,  179  ;  deferts  a 
Woman,  184  ;  cannot  affume 
the  Shape  of  an  innocent  Perfon, 
201-2  ;  performs  Baptifm,  207  ; 
cannot  be  fummoned,  208  ;  in 
South  Carolina,  215;  at  Spring- 
field, 244;  meets  his  Witches, 
245  ;  in  the  Hogs,  263 ;  at 
Newbury,  266-7. 

Dictionaries,  none  early,  xxvii. 

Dike,    Richard,    201  ;    Rebeckah, 
ib. 

Dinfon,  Rachel,  Widow,  200. 

Dole,  John,  260  ;  Benjamin,  ib. 


3oo 


Index. 


Dorchefter,  Anthony,  230-2,  236- 
8,  241. 

Downing,  Mehitable,  releafed,  200. 

Drake,  Abraham,  102  ;  Juror,  151. 

Drake,  Robert,  of  Hampton,  102. 

Drake,  S.  G.,  Witchcraft  Delufion, 
xii,  xxvi,  lii  ;  Founders  of  New 
England,  61,  116,  282  ;  Hiftory 
of  Bofton,  61,  98,  131. 

Dryftreet,  Henry,  171. 

Ducking  to  determine  Witchcraft, 
122,  180,  186,  21 1-15. 

Dudley,  Jofeph,  Councillor,  145. 

Dummer,  Stephen,  281. 

Dunen,  Jonathan,  158. 

Dunton,  John,  Extract  from,  289. 

Duny,  Ann,  burnt  for  a  Witch, 
124. 

Dwight,  Timothy,  cited,  xxxi. 

FARLE,  ROBERT,  Depofition, 

M-t     268-9. 

Earthquakes,  caufed  by  the  Devil, 

xxii. 
Eafthampton,  Witchcraft  in,   110. 
Eafty,  Mary,  executed,  194. 
Eaton,  Theophilus,  95. 
Edwards,  Alexander,  229-30. 
Elkins,  Gerfhom,  Juror,  151. 
Elwell,  Samuel,  Wife  imprifoned, 

201. 
Endicott,  John,  98,  109-10. 
EngJifh,  Philip,  Indictment  of,  203  ; 

imprifoned,  204. 
Erafmus,  Defiderius,  cited,  xxxvi. 
Evans,  Mrs.,  106  ;  Benjamin,  152. 
Evil,  Origin  of,  xxiv. 
Evils,  when  not  Evils,  xxi. 

"P AIRFIELD,  Witchcraft  in,  79, 

*        83-4. 

Fanning,  William,   265-7,   271-2, 

289,  292. 
Felt,  Jofeph  B.,  Hift.  of  Ipfwich, 

74- 


Fenn,  Benjamin,  Magiftrate,  95. 
Fernald,  Renald,  Magiftrate,  104. 
Filmer,  Robert,  Sir,  on  Witchcraft, 

xv,  208. 
Fortune-telling,  Witchcraft,  xlii. 
Fofter,  John,  Juror,   139;    James, 

Conftable,  275. 
Fowler,  William,  Magiftrate,  83. 
Fuller,  John,  Wife  accufed,  150-6. 

QARLICKE,     Mrs.,     accufed, 

^"^       110-12;  Jofeph,  in. 

Gardner,  Lion,   111-12. 

Gedney,  Bartholomew,  145. 

George  the  Firft  (King),  125. 

Ghofts,  akin  to  Witches,  xxiv  ; 
Progenitors  of,  xlii ;  feen  near  the 
Metropolis,  xlii  ;  in  the  Me- 
tropolis, xliii  ;  at  Fort  Warren, 
xliv. 

Glading,  John,  271,  292-3,  295. 

Glover,  Mrs.,  executed  at  Bofton, 

.81-5. 

Godfrey,  John,  87  ;  Children  be- 
witched, 150-4,  113-16. 

Godman,  Elizabeth,  88,  90-5. 

Good,  Sarah,  accufed,  190J;  exe- 
cuted,  1 96. 

Gookin,  Daniel,  98,  136,  145. 

Goodwin,  John,  Cafe  of  his  Child- 
ren, 180-5  »  Sufanna,  271-2, 
288. 

Goodyear,  Stephen,  89,  91,  97. 

Goodinge,  Mrs.,  a  Witnefs,  294. 

Gould,  Mrs.,  an  Accufer,  82-3  ; 
Hannah  F.,  cited,  149-50. 

Green,  John,  Juror,  145,  274. 

Greenleafe,  Daniel,  259,  283. 

Greenfmith,  Mrs.,  executed,  121; 
Nathaniel,   119,  121,  123. 

fJADLEY,  Witchcraft  in,  174- 
**      8. 

Haines,  Jonathan,  271-2,  285. 


Index, 


301 


Hale,     Matthew      (Sir),     xi-xiii, 

xxviii,  124. 
Hall,  Cornelius,  82  ;  Mary,  126- 

7;  Ralph,  126  ;  Rebeckah,  82. 
Hall,  John,  265-6. 
Ham,  old,  Negro,  107. 
Hampton,  Witchcraft  in,  99,  103, 

150. 
Hancock,  George,  2 10- 11. 
Harper,  John,  212. 
Harrifon,  Katherine,  a  Witch,  1 29. 
Harrod,  Thomas,  Juror,  273. 
Harwood,  Thomas,  Juror,  145. 
Hafkins,  Thomas,  Juror,  138. 
Haftings,  Thomas,  Juror,  140. 
Hathorne,  John,  Judge,  190. 
Haunted  Houfe,  one  vifited,  xlii. 
Hay  man,     Nathan,     Juror,      145, 

272. 
Haynes,  Edmund,  219  ;  John,  73  ; 

Jofeph,  121. 
Herman,  Goodman,  221. 
Hibbins,  Anne,  98  ;  executed,  99. 
Hill,  Luke,  molefted,  210-11. 
Hilton,  Hannah,  259. 
Hinman,  R.  R.,  cited,  74. 
Hollifter,  Geo.  H.,  cited,  86. 
Holmes,  William,  Juror,  1 1 7. 
Hooke,  William,  89,  91-3,  96. 
Hooker,  Samuel,  Magiftrate,   121. 
Hooper,     Madam,    Fortune-teller, 

xlix-lii. 
Hopkins,  Matthew,  60,  123-4. 
Hortado,  Antonio,  159-60. 
Howe,  Elizabeth,  executed,  196. 
Howland,  John,  Juror,  139. 
Hudibras,  extracted.      See  Butler, 

S. 
Hudfon,  Alice,  burnt  for  a  Witch, 

124. 
Huen,  Jacob,  Juror,  145,  275. 
Hull,  John,  Affiftant,  145. 
Hutchinfon,  Edward,  69  ;  Francis, 

123-4  J    Thomas,    xxxiii,    99, 

119,  133,  190. 


TGNOkANCE,  the  Parent  of 
Superftition,  xvi,  xxx. 

Indians,  God  of  the,  79,  80,  82  ; 
Devil  of  the,  90  ;  a  Child  of, 
112  ;  Witchcraft,  136,  208-10  ; 
none  at  the  Vineyard,  139  ;  in 
Advance  of  the  Englilh,  140; 
fome  at  Albany,  209  ;  forbid  to 
powow,  137. 

Ingham,  Mary,  accufed,  137. 

Innocent,  viii,  Pope,  xxix. 

JACKSON,  A.,  on  counterfeit 
Money,  xviii;  Abraham,  139. 

Jacobs,  George,  189;  executed, 
196  ;  Margaret,  ib. 

James  the  Firft,  his  Demonology, 
xxvi;  recommended  throwing 
accufed  Perfons  into  the  Water, 
123. 

Johnfon,  Elizabeth,  accufed,  205  ; 
Mary,  confefled  Familiarity  with 
the  Devil,  62  ;  executed,  ib. ; 
Samuel,  a  believer  in  Witchcraft, 
xxviii  ;  Thomas,  89,  97. 

Jones,  Griffin,  232,  251  ;  Mar- 
garet, executed,  58-61  ;  Miftres, 
79,  80,  85  ;  Mary,  128;  Mr., 
60-1,  82. 

Judd,  Sylvefler,  cited,  65,  127, 
129-30,  134,  136. 

17*INGSBURY,   SUSANNA, 
A^-     marriage  of,  270. 
Knap,  Elizabeth,  bewitched,  131. 
Knapp,  Mrs.,  Trial  and  Execution, 

77-86  ;  Samuel  L.,  Extract  from, 

xlviii. 
Knight,  John,  Juror,  145,  272. 
Knowlton,    Thomas,   Jailor,    144, 

280,  290. 

T    ACY,  EDWARD,  Accufation 

againft,  165. 
Lamberton,  Elizabeth,  89,  91. 


302 


Index. 


Lankton,    George,   219;    Hannah, 

220-1,  248-9. 
Lardner,  Nathaniel,  xxxvi,  xl. 
Larremore,  Goodwife,  89,  90. 
Laws    againft     Witchcraft,     xxvi, 

55-7,    gj  ;    againft    Powowing, 

"37- 

Leet,  William,  89,  95. 
Leonard,  Sarah,  a  Witnefs,  239. 
Leverett,  John,  Governor,  136. 
Levet,  Aratus,  151;  Thomas,  ib. 
Levit,  Hazen,  a  Witnefs,  155. 
Lewis,  Alonzo,  Extradt  from,  xliii- 

vi  ;  Mercy,  189,  205. 
Littleton,  Witchcraft  in,  216. 
Lockwood,    Deborah,    82;     Mrs., 

80  ;  Sufan,  82. 
Lowle,  Benjamin,  271-2  ;  Family, 

ib.,  288. 
Ludlow,  Roger,  yyt  82,  86. 
Lumbard,  John,  221,  243,  250. 
Luther,  Martin,  Encounter  with  the 

Devil,  xxxvii. 
Lux,  Chriftopher,  151. 
Lyon,  Richard,  84. 
Lynn,  Witchcraft  in,  205. 

TVTAGIC,  Book  of,  75. 

-Lyj'  March,  John,  282  ;  Family, 
ib.,  284,   295. 

Marfhall,  Abifhag,  151  ;  Thomas, 
289-90,  295-9. 

Marlhfield,  Mrs.,  71,  226,  244; 
Samuel,  225,  250-2  ;  Sarah, 
250-1  ;  Thomas,  222. 

Marfton,  Thomas,  Juror,  151; 
William,  ib. 

Martin,  Sufannah,  profecuted,  128- 
9  ;  executed,  1 96. 

Mafon,  John,  at  Saybrook,  1 1 2. 

Mather,  Cotton,  on  Witchcraft,  xi, 
xiii,  xxii  ;  on  Witchcraft  in  Eu- 
rope, xxxiii  ;  Extract  from,  57, 
61  ;  on  "an  Army  of  Devils," 
ib.;  on  Moleftations,  75-6;  equal- 


led, 143  ;    "Triumph  with  the 

Devil,"  1 79  ;  Difcovers  the  Devil 

in  an  old  Woman,  184  ;  muffles 

out  in  a  Mift,  201. 
Mather,    Increafe,   on    Witchcraft, 

xi;    Extracts  from,  xxxvii,  76, 

122,  132,  165-6,  186. 
Mathews,   John,   a   Witnefs,    228, 

244,  254;  Pentcoft,  killed,  228. 
Matfon,   Margaret,  a  Witch,  171- 

2;  Neels,  173. 
Merrick,     231  ;      Thomas,    244; 

Mrs.,  245-6. 
Middlecott,  Richard,  a  Juror,  145, 

273- 

Mighell,  John,  Evidence,  267-8, 
271-2. 

Miles,  Mary,  89,  95. 

Millennium,  Calculators  of,  efti- 
mated,  xxxv ;  Humbug,  xxxvi. 

Miller,  Thomas,  a  Witnefs,  222, 
251  ;  Sarah,  bewitched,  252  ; 
William,  xxxv. 

Mirack,  Margaret,  a  Witnefs,  287. 

Miracles,  diminifh  in  Number, 
xxiii ;  all  things  Miracles,  xxiv. 

Moody,  Caleb,  263,  265,  271, 
294  ;  Jofhua,  a  Witnefs,  165  ; 
William,  276. 

Morgan,  Miles,  251  ;  Prudence, 
251-2. 

Morfe,  Abner,  reference  to,  148  ; 
Elizabeth,  profecuted,  144  ;  im- 
prifoned  and  fentenced  to  be 
hung,  145  ;  John,  274  ;  Wil- 
liam, molefted,  141  ;  a  Profecu- 
tor,  143  ;  Petition  of,  147  ;  his 
Refidence,  149  ;  Trial,  &c,  258- 
296. 

Mofely,  Edward,  Col.,  210-11. 

Moulton,  Jonathan,  Gen.,  makes  a 
League  with  the  Devil,  156  ; 
fwindles  him  out  of  a  vaft  Sum 
of  Money,  156-7. 

Moxon,   George,    Rev.,    Children 


Index. 


3°3 


bewitched,  65,  71,  228  ;  a  Wit- 

nefs,  228,  235,  250,253. 
Mun,     Abigail,     a    Witnefs,    224, 

232  ;  Goodman,  223. 
Myftery,  how  folved,   xxii  ;  Love 

of,   xxiii  ;  all  things   Myfteries, 

xxiv,  xxxix. 

XTEALE,  ANDREW,  Innkeep- 

"^      er,  292. 

Necromancers,    contract    with   the 

Devil,  xvi. 
Neelfon,  Anthony,  173. 
Newhall    and    Lewis,    Hiftory    of 

Lynn,  xlvii. 

N[gg_HgYfTli    W^^hrrafr  in^    xxvi, 

75»  77- 

Newman,  Francis,  89,  95. 

Newton,  Ifaac  (Sir),  fuperftitious, 
xxviii. 

Nicolls,  Richard  (Governor),  125. 

Nolton.  —  See  Knowlton. 

Northampton,    Witchcraft  in,  134. 

Nourfe,  Rebecca,  194  ;  executed, 
197. 

Noyes,  Nicholas,  195  ;  "Fire- 
brands of  Hell,"  196  ;  Election 
Sermon,  198,  285. 

QDEL,  Goodwife,  80,  81,  84. 
^^  Oliver,  Mary,  executed,  64. 
Ordway,   Ann,    272 ;    James,    ib., 

263,  287  ;  John,  263,  271. 
Original  Sin,  xxiv. 
Ofborn,  Ruth,  180  ;  Sarah,  190. 
Oyfter  Bay,  Witchcraft  in,  117. 

O ANTON,  RICHARD,  131. 

Parat,  Francis,  a  Witnefs,  75. 

Paris,  Samuel,  Rev.,  190. 

Parker,  Alice,  hanged,  197-8; 
John,  198  ;  Mary,  hanged,  ib. 

Parfons,  Hugh,  accufed  of  Witch- 
craft, 66  ;  indifted,  68  ;  profe- 
cuted  for  Libel,  71-2  ;  Examina- 


tion of,  119;  bewitched  a  Pud- 
ding, ib.f  222  ;  whets  Saws  in  the 
Night,  223  ;  threatening  Speech- 
es, 224  ;  makes  a  Light  in  a  Wo- 
man's Chamber,  225  ;  tortures 
her  in  Bed,  226  ;  appears  as  a 
Dog,  227 ;  bewitched  Moxon's 
Children,  228 ;  a  Brick-maker, 
ib.  ;  caufes  a  Girl  to  have  Fits, 
ib.  ;  dries  up  a  Cow,  229-30; 
fpirits  away  a  Neat's  Tongue, 
230-32;  abducls  a  Knife  with- 
out Hands,  233;  bewitched  his 
Child,  235  ;  dreamed  of  a  Fight 
with  the  Devil,  240  ;  accufed  by 
his  Wife,  239-43  ;  bewitched  a 
Trowel,  243  ;  a  Beer  Barrel, 
246 ;  fends  Snakes  to  one,  247 ; 
another  Pudding  bewitched,  249; 
bewitched  Sarah  Miller,  252  ; 
Goody  Stebbing,  253;  fright- 
ens Horfes,  255  ;  bewitches 
Bags  of  Meal,  255  ;  alfo  Wil- 
liam Branch,  256. 

Parfons,  John,  accufed,  136,  140. 

Parfons,  Jofeph,  134;  Mary  his 
Wife  profecuted,  134;  pleads 
her  own  Caufe,  135-6. 

Parfons,  Mary,  Wife  of  Hugh 
Parfons,  66-68  ;  accufes  her 
Hufband  of  Witchcraft,  222; 
Reafon  why,  233-5,  239-40, 
243,  251. 

Partrigg,  Samuel,  Clerk,  169. 

Payne,  George,  of  Great  Ifland, 
151;  Robert,  Juror,  204. 

Pearfon,  George,  151. 

Pell,  Thomas,  79,  80,  84,  85. 

Pendleton,  Bryan,  104. 

Penn,  William,  Judge,  171,  172. 

Pepper,  Francis,  a  Witnefs,  242, 
251. 

Perkins,  Abraham,  Juror,  151; 
John,  289,  295-6;  William, 
Authority  on  Witchcraft,  xi. 


3°+ 


hidex. 


Pharao,  old,  Negro  Slave,  205. 
Phips,  William,  Sir,  difcharges  Pri- 

ibners,   191. 
Philadelphia,  Witchcraft  in,  173. 
Philip,  King,  his  War,  137. 
Pike,   Jofeph,    Conrtable,    269-70  ; 

Family,  ib.,  zyz. 
Pitcher,  Mary,  Hiitory  of,  xlv-viii. 
Plymouth  Colony,  inteited,  56,  158. 
Pope,  Alexander,  Extract,  xxiii. 
Pope,  Seth,  Juror,  139. 
Portfmouth,  Witchcraft  in,  1 03. 
Powell,  Caleb,  142,  143,  280,  285. 
Powowing,  Law  made  againil,  1 37. 
Pratt,  Benijah,  Juror,  139. 
Prefcott,  Mrs.,  a  Witch,  152. 
Pritchard,    Joanna,    221  ;     Roger, 

249. 
Prime's  Hift.  Long  Ifland,  110-12. 
Procter,  John,  1S9;  executed,  198. 
Prophets  in  all  Periods,  xxxv. 
Pudeater,  Ann,  executed,  198. 
Pudding,  one  bewitched,   219-22  ; 

another,  248-9. 
Puddington,     Agnes,    John,     Wit- 

nefles,   106. 
Puritans,  much  abufed,  xxxi  ;   un- 

juftly     reproached,     ib.  j     by     a 

Weilern  Bifhop,  xxxiv. 
Putnam,  Ann,  Thomas,  189. 
Pynchon,  John,  70,  145,  169. 
Pynchon,    William,    65,    76;    his 

Record    of    Proceedings    againlt 

Hugh  Parfons,  219-258. 

QUAKER    POET,    in    Error, 

e^     xlii,  xliii. 

Quakers    accufed    of     Witchcraft, 

1 07- 1  o ;  a  Crime  to  be  a  Quaker, 

118,  158. 

DAWSON,    Edward,    88,    98, 
103,  109,  146,  232,254-56. 
Randall,  Mary,  185  ;  William,  186. 
Redman,  John,  a  Witnefs,  103. 


Reed,  Dodlor,  152;  Willmot,  ex- 
ecuted, 198-9. 
Rhode  Ifland,  Witchcraft  in,  217. 
Richards,  John,  145,  203,  211. 
Richardfon,  Benjamin,  Teftimony, 

26,  271-2,  292,  294;    Jofhua, 

262,  271-2. 
Richmond,  John,  a  Juror,  139. 
Robins,  Richard,  Juror,  145,  274. 
Roby,    Goodman,    103  ;     Henry, 

Juror,  151-2. 
Rogers,  Ann,  died  of  Witchcraft, 

126. 
Rolfe,  Daniel,  278. 
Rofs,   David,  Judge,    125;    Mary, 

pofleffed,  158. 
Rowe,    Elizabeth,    106;  Nicholas, 

106  ;  Phebe,  200  ;  Hugh,  201. 
Rowley,  Witchcraft  in,  74. 
Ruflell,  James,  a  Juror,  145. 
Ryall,  Jofeph,  Conftable,  272. 

C  AINT  Dunftan  Church,  xiv. 

Salem,  unduly  reproached,  ix, 
xxx;Witchcraft  in,  187-208. 

SalteT7"W7iliam,  PHfon-keeper,  101. 

Saltonftall,  Nathaniel,  145  ;  Rich- 
ard, ib. 

Sanborn,  John,  Juror,  151. 

Saunderling,  James,  172. 

Savage,  James,  Perverfity,  j6  ; 
cited,  111,  151,  167  ;  "  the 
Devil  and  Cotton  Mather,"  179  ; 
Opinion  of  the  Judges,  208, 
272,  285. 

Savage,  Thomas,  Councillor,    145. 

Saybrook,  Witchcraft  in,  112. 

Scituate,  Witchcraft  in,  116,  137. 

Scott,  Margaret,  executed,  199. 

Searl,  Joanna,  224;  John,  229. 

Seger,  Elizabeth,  Trial,  127. 

Sewell,  BefTe,  245,  249  ;  Jane, 
281  ;  Thomas,  221. 

Sewall's  Hiftory  of  the  Quakers, 
118. 


Indi 


ex. 


3°5 


Sheldon,  Sufannah,  189. 

Sherburn,  Henry,  104  ;  Samuel, 
260. 

Sherwood,  Mrs.,  79,  84  ;  Grace, 
Proceedings  againft  for  Witch- 
craft, 210-15. 

Simcook,  John,  172. 

Smith,  Henry,  242,  243,  256. 

Smith,  John,  a  Juror,  151;  Mrs., 
240. 

Smith,  Nathaniel,   a  Witnefs,  152. 

Smith,  Philip,  bewitched,  169, 
174,  176-7  ;  William,  211. 

Snow,  Mark,  a  Juror,  139. 

Soames,  Abigail,  imprifoned,  201. 

Southampton,  Witchcraft  in,  165. 

South  Carolina,  Witchcraft  in,  215. 

Southwick,  Caflandra,  108-10. 

Spafford,  H.  G.,  Gazetteer,  cited, 
127. 

Spencer,  Edmund,  extract,  lii. 

Spirit  Rappings,  xxxviii;  a  Co- 
lony of  S.  Rappers,  xxxix,  xlii, 
xlviii. 

Spiritualifm,  Divination,  xli. 

Sprat,  Henry,  a  Juror,  211. 

Springfield,   Witchcraft  in,  64-72, 

'.85- 

Squire,  Goodwife,  a  Witnefs,  84. 

Staplies,  Thomas,  his  Wife  accufed, 

77-85. 

Stebbings,  John,  140,  245,  252-3. 

Stiles,  John,  141;  Mifcreant,  142, 
261,  271,  288. 

Stone,  John,  Juror,  145  ;  Samuel, 
63,    120. 

Stoughton,  William,  145,  208. 

Stratford,  Witchcraft  in,  72,  74. 

Superftition,  debafing,  ix ;  Em- 
blems of,  xv,  xvii;  at  War 
with  Reafon,  xviii  ;  Fetters  to 
Mankind,  xxiii  ;  a  Millennium 
Humbug,  xxxvi. 

Sylvefter,  Dinah,  117. 

Symonds,  Samuel,  98. 

Oo 


'"TABLE  TURNING,  a  branch 
*       of  Witchcraft,  xlii. 
Talbot,  Gerud,  139. 
Talcott,  Captain,  123. 
Tappin,  Sufanna,  277. 
Taylor,  Anthony,  151  ;  Jonathan, 

70,  232,  240,  245,  248,  253-4, 

257. 
Thompfon,  B.  F.,  Hiftory  of  Long 

Ifland,  in,  117  ;  John,  84. 
Thorrowgood,  Major,  211. 
Thorpe,  Goodman,  89. 
Thurfton,  Daniel,  a  Witnefs,  284. 
Titcomb,   Elizabeth,   271,  277-9  > 

Lydia,  278;  Penuil,  272,  292. 
Towle,  Mrs.,    151;  lfabella,  156. 
Tilton,  Peter,  169,  170. 
Time,  Indian  Squaw  Servant,  92. 
Titcomb,  Elizabeth,  Witnefs,  258  ; 

Peniel,  259. 
Tituba,  Indian  Servant  imprifoned, 

190. 
Tomfon,  Attorney  General,  211. 
Travelly,  Thomas,  165. 
Trimmings,  Oliver,   105  ;    Sufan- 

nah,  104. 
Trumbull's    Col.    Records,     111, 

112. 
Turpin,  Thomas,  107. 
Turell,  Ebenezer,  216-17. 
Turnor,  John,  Innkeeper,  288-9. 
Tyler,  Job,  87-8,  1 13-14. 
Tyng,  Edward,  145. 

TJPHAM,  C.  W.,  cited,  74, 198, 
200. 

TXfADSWORTHJOHN,  138. 
**       Wait,   John,   Juror,    145, 

273- 
Walford,    Thomas,    103  ;     Mrs., 

103-7. 
Walch,  Machael,  259. 
Walcut,   John,   189;    Mary,   182, 

204. 


306 


Index. 


Waldron,  Richard,  101. 
Walton,  George,  162-5. 
*  Ward,  Andrew,  79,  85. 
Wardwell,  Samuel,  executed,  199. 
Warren,  Mary,  afflifted,  I89. 
Warrener,  William,  224. 
Watfon's   Annals   of   New    York, 

126-7. 
Waye,  Richard,  Juror,  145,  273. 
Webfter,  Ifrael,  288. 
Webfter,  Mary,  168-71,  174. 
Wells,    John,     282-4  ;     Thomas, 

281. 
Weftchefter,  Witchcraft  in,  133. 
Weftern    Bifhop,    Sneers    of   one, 

xxxiv. 
Wheeler,  David,  Teftimony,  261, 

272,  286  ;  George,  284. 
Whiting,  John,  121,  122. 
Whitlocke,  Goodwife,  83. 
Whitnels,  Jeremy,  89,  90. 
Whittier,  John  G.,  107-10,    118, 

158. 
Wiggin,  Thomas,  98,  287. 
Wigglefworth,  Michael,  203. 
Willard,    John,    executed,      199; 

Samuel,  131-2;  Simon,  98. 
Wildes,  Sarah,  executed,  199. 
Williams,  Abigail,  189. 
Willis.     See  Wyllys. 
Willfon,  Either,  a  Witnefs,  275. 
Winflow,  Jofiah,  137  ;  Nathaniel, 

129. 


Winthrop,  John,  57,  59. 

Wife,  Sarah,  marriage  of,  286. 

Wifeman,  Elizabeth,  261. 

Witch  Books,  xi-xvi,  174,  189. 

Witch  Circles,  189. 

WucJirraft,  Qafes  of,  in  N.  Eng. , 
fimikr_to  thofe  in  Old  Eng..  vi, 
vJlL^Jthe  World  never  free  from, 
xxx ;  among  Indians,  136-7, 
208. 

Witch-finders,  60. 

Witch  Teats  difcovered,  80,  214. 

Wonders  of  the  Invifible  World, 
128. 

Wood,  George,  bewitched,  1 26  ; 
Silas,  Hift.  of  L.  I.,  no. 

Woodbridge,  John,  Commiffioner, 
144,  259. 

Woodhoufe,  Horatio,  211. 

Woodman,  Edward,  288  ;  Jona- 
than, Depofition,  259-60,  271-2. 

Woodworth,  Mehittable,  137-8. 

Woolworth,  Richard,  a  Witnefs, 
284. 

Wright,  Hannah,  119;  Mary,  1 1 7- 
19  t  Samuel,  225. 

Wyllys,  George,  112- 13  ;  Samuel, 
112,  123. 

YANKEES,  flurred  by  a  Weft- 

ern  Bifhop,  xxxiv. 
Yatefs  Smith's  New  York,  1 27. 


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